Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The joint committee will hear submissions today from two groups, namely, Trócaire and Médecins Sans Frontières, on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Kordofan and South Sudan. I welcome Mr. Maurice McQuillan, humanitarian manager at Trócaire, Ms Jane-Ann McKenna, head of office at Médecins Sans Frontières, who has previously appeared before the committee, and Dr. Simon Collins, chairman, Médecins Sans Frontières.

The committee has been kept informed by both organisations of the gravity of the situation in the region of South Kordofan and the Blue Nile area in particular. We are deeply concerned about the need to alleviate the humanitarian situation by ensuring unhindered humanitarian access. A ceasefire and moves by Sudan and South Sudan to resolve outstanding issues between them are essential if longer term stability is to be restored. Members will be aware that the joint committee wrote to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, at the end of July endorsing specific recommendations as proposed by Trócaire. The Tánaiste has assured the committee that he shares our concerns and that he will continue to emphasise the urgent need for humanitarian access to civilians and supports the recommendations which I referred to. I know all present will welcome the fact that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided €6 million in terms of humanitarian support this year and is ready to provide further support to humanitarian organisations working on the ground. I also raised the issue of the Blue Nile and what is happening in South Sudan with Baroness Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the foreign affairs chairpersons' meeting in Cyprus two weeks ago. The High Representative stated there is huge concern about what is happening and work in the region is ongoing.

Members of the committee who travelled to Ethiopia last year will recall the refugees from the Blue Nile region with whom we met at the border with South Sudan and their harrowing stories of what they had to endure in the Togo refugee camp. That is almost 12 months ago. The situation has deteriorated since then. The committee was also told some time ago at an informal meeting with a priest involved in Trócaire of the deteriorating situation in the region owing to a conflict in regard to petroleum. We heard harrowing stories of what the refugees had to endure, their long journeys to refugee camps and the problems they experienced with the army and so on in terms of human rights.

The committee will hear first from the witness from Trócaire and then from the witnesses from Médecins Sans Frontières, following which I will allow questions from members. Before I invite the groups to make their presentations, I draw their attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. However, if directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I now invite Mr. Maurice McQuillan to address the committee.