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Foreign Conflicts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Ceisteanna (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

105Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, through the EU and UN, has managed to focus worldwide attention on the on-going and ever increasing extent of starvation and famine in the Sudan and throughout the horn of Africa; if the international community can take any particular initiative at this stage which might result in a co-ordinated relief and peace-keeping effort with a view to achieving some degree of recognition of the plight of people there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25345/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

117Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his response to the worsening humanitarian situation in South Kordofan, Sudan in which it is estimated that up to 300,000 people have been displaced due to violence between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement – North; if there are any proposals to address the immediate food, water and shelter needs of the displaced population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25343/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

127Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the serious and humanitarian needs of the affected population in South Kordofan in general and the Nuba Mountains in particular if he will ensure that the E.U. will call on the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to comply with their binding obligations under International Humanitarian Law to allow safe and unhindered access for international humanitarian actors to all civilians and to provide prompt humanitarian assistance to all those in need. [24993/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

134Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to highlight the humanitarian crisis in South Kordofan in Sudan; the action he will take to put pressure on Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir to enter negotiations and find a just solution for the people of the Nuba Mountains. [25355/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

158Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the serious and immediate humanitarian needs of the affected population in South Kordofan in general and the Nuba Mountains in particular, if he will call on the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to comply with their binding obligations under International Humanitarian Law to allow safe and unhindered access for international humanitarian actors to all civilians and to provide prompt humanitarian assistance to all those in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24856/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

160Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the measures Ireland and the EU are taking to ensure that the Government’s of Sudan and South Sudan comply with their binding obligations under international law to allow safe and unhindered access for international humanitarian actors to all civilians and to provide prompt humanitarian assistance to all those in need in the context of the ongoing situation in South Kordofan in general and the Nuba Mountains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24921/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Simon Harris

Ceist:

164Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position in relation to the current outbreak of violence in South Kordofan, Sudan and the difficulties international humanitarian actors are having in accessing civilians affected by this escalation; if he intends to a make a contribution to the EU Foreign Affairs Council in view of this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24980/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

165Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will take appropriate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25017/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Conaghan

Ceist:

166Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his view on the conflict, and associated food shortages, in South Kordufan, Sudan; and the action he is taking in response. [25021/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

167Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations at a European level to call on the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to comply with their binding obligations under International Humanitarian Law to allow safe and unhindered access for international humanitarian actors to all civilians and to provide prompt humanitarian assistance to all those in need in South Kordofan in general and the Nuba Mountains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25047/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Collins

Ceist:

181Deputy Joan Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions that have taken place at EU level in relation to access for humanitarian organisations to South Kordofan and the Nuba Mountains in particular; and his position on this matter. [25106/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

185Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the serious and immediate humanitarian needs of the affected population in South Kordofan in general and the Nuba mountains in particular, and the need to ensure unhindered access for international humanitarian actors to all civilians and to provide prompt humanitarian assistance to all those in need; and the stance that he has Ireland taken in respect of these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25272/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

201Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the situation in Sudan and neighbouring jurisdictions continues to be monitored by the international community; the extent to which this has had a positive bearing on the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25672/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (10 píosaí cainte)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 117, 127, 134, 158, 160, 164 to 167, inclusive, 181, 185 and 201 together.

The Government continues to monitor and respond to the humanitarian needs generated by a number of conflicts and protracted crises in Africa, notably those in Sudan, South Sudan, the Horn of Africa, Somalia and the Sahel. Almost one year on from the peak of the Horn of Africa crisis, the overall humanitarian situation across much of this region has now improved thanks in large part to the massive aid operation which donors such as Ireland helped to support. However, the situation remains critical for many millions of people, especially in Somalia, where access for aid agencies remains highly restricted in many areas. Emergency funding allocated by Irish Aid towards the overall relief effort in the Horn of Africa currently stands at almost €17 million, making Ireland, in per capita terms, one of the most significant humanitarian donors to the region.

We are, however, particularly concerned about the increasingly difficult humanitarian situation in Sudan, notably in the border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, where 350,000 civilians have been severely affected by the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement-North. In addition to those affected within these two states, some 140,000 refugees have already fled to Ethiopia and South Sudan, while 100,000 more have been displaced as a result of fighting around the disputed border area of Abyei. One of the key issues of concern relates to access for aid agencies to the areas affected by the conflict. Ireland, together with its EU partners, is actively supporting efforts to ensure that both Sudan and South Sudan comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and to ensure humanitarian agencies gain full access to those in need. The Government has raised the issue of access at EU level and in other international fora.

In January last, and with Ireland's encouragement, the EU urged the Government of Sudan to allow safe and unhindered access for international humanitarian workers to all civilians and reiterated its readiness to provide humanitarian assistance. The EU also emphasised that the ongoing conflicts in southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur remain obstacles to moving forward with the full range of support it would like to provide to Sudan. Last month, the European Union called on the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, SPLM-North, to engage in an inclusive political process to resolve the conflict.

Through Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Government already has allocated €2 million this year for the UN-managed common humanitarian funds for both the Republic of Sudan and South Sudan and is currently considering a further additional contribution. These funds are being used to help UN agencies and NGOs target the most critical humanitarian needs across both countries, including in areas beset by conflict and affected by displacement from Blue Nile and South Kordofan. A further €1.22 million has been made available to Irish NGOs, namely, Trócaire, GOAL and World Vision, for programmes in Sudan and South Sudan under the annual humanitarian programme planning funding scheme. Our assistance is saving lives daily.

I assure the many Members who have taken an interest in this matter that the Government will continue to monitor closely the situation in South Kordofan, the Blue Nile and other areas facing critical need across the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions. In conjunction with its EU partners, the Government will continue to press for unrestricted humanitarian access to affected civilians.

I thank the Minister of State for his response and for what his Department is doing and urge the Government to continue to support these regions. Last November, Deputy Mac Lochlainn and I had the privilege of visiting Ethiopia and its western borders to meet the refugees who then were pouring across the border from Sudan and South Sudan and we saw how intractable are the problems in that region. I commend the Department on its activities. Members also should commend the Ethiopian Government, which shows extraordinary generosity in taking in massive influxes of people from all its borders despite its own difficult financial position. I also commend the NGOs and note that only last week, Oxfam returned from a visit to Burkina Faso and Niger during which it was highlighting the crises there. Similarly, Trócaire plans to undertake a fact-finding or rather, a highlighting mission in August to some of these countries. The Department is doing good work and I urge it to keep it up. Moreover, the Government should challenge our European partners and those much wealthier states, which have much more to give but are reluctant to so do, to play their role as well.

I thank the Deputy for the compliments in respect of the activities in which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is engaged. Certainly, the entire Horn of Africa and Sahel region is difficult. Moreover, it is bedevilled by conflicts in Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan and by the number of displaced people, the dangers of famine and the disruption that is taking place. Furthermore, it is affecting the neighbouring countries and the Deputy mentioned Ethiopia, which has been consistent in minding its borders carefully in this regard. The Department is working closely with the United Nations and the European Union on these matters. Ireland undoubtedly has played a quite significant role in this respect. Since 2008, Ireland has given €28 million to the Horn of Africa-Sahel region, including the area encompassing South Sudan and Sudan. In addition, Ireland has funded its NGOs, which have limited access to the area but which are working in extremely difficult circumstances. I certainly compliment them on the work they are doing. The European Union called last month on the warring partners, the Liberation Army in South Sudan and the Sudanese forces, to come to the table and use the comprehensive peace process of 2005 to resolve their difficulties.

Like Deputy Ó Feargháil, I too had the opportunity as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to visit Ethiopia and to see at first hand the first flood of refugees to the United Nations established Tongo refugee camp and the generosity of the Ethiopian state to the Somalians who are in great devastation. Drought has become famine because of political instability in Sudan and Somalia. It is interesting to note that Ethiopia would also be enduring drought conditions but for the assistance of Irish and international NGOs and donor states, which illustrates the impact of proper political management. There should be no famine in the year 2012. There can be no excuse for famine in the world in which we live today.

I again commend the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Irish Aid on the work they do in this area. It is clear the reputation of Ireland, a small state of 4.5 million people, is immense in those areas. The duration of our reception by the Ethiopian Prime Minister is a reflection of their respect for us. We need to use that reputation in our continued efforts to influence more powerful states to play a similar role. I commend the Government, the Department and Irish Aid on the work they are doing and encourage them to keep it going.

The Minister of State, Deputy Costello, said that the Government is monitoring human rights abuses in Africa. Perhaps he will comment on the UN human rights group report on Libya which refers to 8,000 prisoners being held without trial, deaths in detention, ethnic cleansing in Tawergha - a town of 30,000 mainly black Libyans - violent persecution of sub-Saharan Africans and Libya being in the grip of lawless warlords and armed conflict between militia. When the intervention commenced, 2,000 civilians had been killed. The current figure in this regard is estimated to be 30,000. NATO moved in and Sarkozy was driving the agenda so as to re-establish his position for re-election. NATO has since pulled out, resulting in Libya becoming a disaster zone.

The Deputy's question deals with a separate matter. I urge him to table a separate parliamentary question on it but will ask the Minister of State to make a brief response.

I thank Members for their questions. There is no doubt but that the Ethiopian model can be used by neighbouring states. Members will recall that during the time of "Live Aid" millions of people in Ethiopia were dying. Now, because of work done by NGOs, in particular the active role played by Irish Aid, Irish NGOs and funding provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a safety net programme has been put in place, which is being replicated throughout Ethiopia and is helping to prevent recurring famine. This is something we would like to see extended to other areas.

Somalia and Sudan, in particular south Sudan, are bedevilled by ongoing conflict, which makes it difficult for small NGOs to gain access and for the putting in place of any consistent programme that will deal with irrigation, food shortages and so on. As stated by Deputy Mac Lochlainn, Ethiopia is to be complimented on the manner in which has dealt with its situation, in which Irish Aid has been very much involved.

On Libya, which is a totally different issue, if Deputy Wallace wishes to table a parliamentary question on the matter, I would be delighted to answer it. I will look closely at the issue of prisoners and prisoners rights and will come back to the Deputy on the matter.

Robert Troy

Ceist:

106Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional plans that are in place, following last month’s conference, as part of Ireland’s chairmanship of the OSCE, to advance the Northern Peace Process as a case study for conflict resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25187/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

As chairman-in-office of the OSCE, I was delighted to host in Dublin recently a major conference which was entitled "Shared future: building and sustaining peace - the Northern Ireland case study". My aim in hosting this conference was to support and encourage those engaged in efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts elsewhere in the OSCE region by sharing our own successful experience of conflict resolution and peace-building in Northern Ireland.

I was pleased at the high level of participation and the deep engagement and interest in our peace process which was shown by those who attended. I am particularly grateful to our moderator, Martti Ahtisaari, and to the distinguished speakers who accepted our invitation to speak at the conference. Among many remarkable interventions in the course of the day, I would like to single out the contributions made by the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, MLA, the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, MLA, and former US Senator, George Mitchell. Our objective was to increase international awareness of what helped to achieve a comprehensive and lasting agreement on this island and, without seeking in any way to present our experience as a template, to draw attention to concepts and approaches which might conceivably have relevance elsewhere. There was a high level of interest in this conference, both at home and abroad, and the feedback has been extremely positive.

Over the past few years, successive Irish Governments have been actively sharing the experience and insights gained during our peace process with groups operating in conflict situations in many different parts of the world. A small conflict resolution unit was created in my Department in 2007 to facilitate this work and to assist those striving for peaceful settlements elsewhere. In this and other ways, Ireland is making a strong national contribution to conflict resolution and mediation efforts around the world. In my concluding remarks at the recent conference, I indicated that we are willing to provide more detailed briefings on aspects of the Northern Ireland peace process, should this be helpful to those engaged in conflict resolution efforts in the OSCE area.

At the end of this month we will host a seminar along these lines for Moldovan and Transdniestrian negotiators from the so-called 5+2 talks. This seminar is being organised at the request of the two sides and the programme in Dublin will be followed by meetings in Belfast. A formal round of talks in the 5+2 framework took place in Dublin in late February and there was a further round in Vienna last month. Progress to date has been encouraging, and I hope the forthcoming seminar will build momentum for further progress in the talks when they resume in July.

The Tánaiste is to be commended for holding this conference, which is an important initiative. We have a lot to offer and can become much more proactive in the whole area of conflict resolution. I see this very much in the context of developing Ireland's reputation abroad, boosting our opportunities for trade and augmenting our development aid budget. As that last is constrained, we could find that, by virtue of a role in conflict resolution, we could achieve far more on behalf of beleaguered people in various parts of the developing world. So much of what we see in terms of hunger and deprivation has its origins in conflict.

What the Tánaiste is doing is to be commended, therefore, but how ambitious is he to develop this initiative further? Can we, via the OSCE and our membership of the European Union, garner greater resources to put into the conflict resolution unit that was established in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2007 and take on the myriad challenges in which we might assist?

In this year, while we hold the chair-in-office of the OSCE, we have decided to concentrate on the three areas of conflict which are within the OSCE region, namely, the conflict in Moldova regarding the Transdniestrian region; the conflict in Georgia regarding the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which is the subject of the Minsk Process. We are using the experiences in Northern Ireland to address these conflicts, not as a kind of template to settle other disputes because each dispute and conflict is different, but to provide encouragement to those who are engaged in the talks process to persist with it and use it as a way of guiding events forward. In addition, I have appointed two special representatives, ambassadors Pádraig Murphy and Erwan Fouéré, to assist me in attempting to move forward talks processes in those areas.

With regard to the Moldova-Transdniestrian conflict, we had the 5 + 2 discussions at Farmleigh in February, at which some progress was made, and there will be a seminar later this month on what can be learned from the Northern Ireland conflict. Delegates will visit Belfast and the talks will resume formally in July. I hope to be able to visit the southern Caucasus area with a view to looking at the situation in Georgia and at the Nagorno-Karabakh.dispute. It is really about concentrating on these three protracted conflicts and using our year of chairmanship of the OSCE to make a positive contribution to try to get settlements.

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