Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
10. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he sees a role for Ireland and the EU in resolving the conflict in South Sudan; if he will make representations at European level on same and the involvement there has been of the Irish ambassador in Ethiopia. [1436/14]
View answer15. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deepening crisis and continued violence in South Sudan; if his Department pledged funding and assistance to those affected; and if he has discussed the crisis with his EU counterparts. [1441/14]
View answer19. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to recent events in South Sudan. [1486/14]
View answer32. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Ireland and the EU continue to offer assistance towards bringing about a peaceful solution in southern Sudan; the degree to which the EU and Ireland in general can bring moral pressure on the opposing factions there with a view to alleviating violence and the disbursement of humanitarian aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1432/14]
View answer80. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the assistance provided by Irish Aid to South Sudan; the proposals there are to provide additional humanitarian assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1637/14]
View answer88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he and his EU-UN colleagues have focused on the situation in southern Sudan with a view to addressing issues affecting the civilian population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1774/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 15, 19, 32, 80 and 88 together.
I share the deep concern at the escalating conflict in South Sudan and in particular by reports of violence perpetrated against the country’s civilian population. The violence, which erupted in the capital Juba on 15 December last, has spread very quickly and is now affecting most of the country, displacing more than 200,000 people, including some 60,000 seeking shelter in UN peacekeeping bases in the country.
On 2 January last the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, issued a statement on behalf of the EU which called for an immediate ceasefire, with effective monitoring to spare the people of South Sudan any further suffering. The statement appealed to all parties to allow access for humanitarian workers and observers and also encouraged immediate peace talks.
Ireland is working closely with our EU partners to monitor and co-ordinate efforts in response to the unfolding political and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. The EU is supporting ongoing mediation efforts by the African Union and The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The peace talks, which are taking place in Addis Ababa, are vitally important and it is imperative that a negotiated solution is found as a matter of urgency. The EU’s Special Representative to the region, along with EU Ambassadors, are also working to bring about a peaceful solution to the crisis. I look forward to discussing the latest situation in South Sudan with my colleagues in the Foreign Affairs Council next Monday, when we will have an opportunity to consider possible further measures in response to the unfolding crisis.
Ireland provided €4 million in humanitarian funding to South Sudan in 2013. Of this, a total of €2.5 million has been disbursed to the UN-managed Common Humanitarian Fund for South Sudan. In addition, over €1.5 million in funding has been disbursed through NGOs to meet humanitarian needs across the country in 2013.
Two airlifts totalling 40 tonnes of emergency supplies, with a value of €400,000 have been dispatched to South Sudan from our pre-positioned stocks in Accra, Ghana. These supplies consist mainly of blankets, Jerry Cans, Tarpaulins, Kitchen sets and Mosquito nets. In addition, the European Union is making €50 million available to respond to the humanitarian crisis. Our funding is saving lives.
Ireland is also addressing the issue of security in South Sudan. There are four defence personnel serving with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) there, providing important technical training on bomb disposal techniques to local police. Three members of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps were deployed to UN agencies in South Sudan in 2013. A further deployment to UNICEF in South Sudan is scheduled for later this month.
My Department is also providing consular assistance to Irish citizens in South Sudan through our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Kampala and the Consular Crisis Section in Dublin and our travel advice has been updated to advise against travel there.
