Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The resurgence of fighting in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a matter of grave concern, both in terms of its implications for the humanitarian situation and for the stability of the wider Great Lakes region. It has seriously undermined the Goma and Nairobi peace agreements and placed the progress made over the past year in the Great Lakes peace process in grave jeopardy. The position, notwithstanding a fragile ceasefire, remains volatile. I am particularly concerned by reports of widespread attacks on civilians by all sides in the conflict and the plight of the estimated 1.5 million people now displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 1 million of whom are in North Kivu. News of clashes yesterday is also disturbing.

MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force which, at 17,000 strong, is the UN's largest peacekeeping operation, is mandated to use all means necessary to protect the civilian population. Since 2001, three Irish Defence Forces officers have been deployed with the mission as military liaison officers. MONUC is now seriously over-stretched and UN officials have called for extra troops and air assets. The UN Security Council is fully seized of the matter and has been discussing appropriate responses as a matter of urgency.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has been heavily engaged in discussions in an effort to stabilise the situation. Secretary General Ban's appointment of the former Nigerian President, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, an experienced mediator in regional disputes, as his special envoy to broker a political settlement is a particularly welcome development. The African Union, led by its current chairman, President Kikwete of Tanzania, has also been to the forefront of efforts to restore calm. It is not as yet clear if there will be agreement to hold talks involving the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, as urged by the Secretary General.

The EU is the largest humanitarian donor to the Democratic Republic of Congo and has played a key role in supporting peace efforts to date. Ireland fully supports the excellent work of the EU's special representative to the Great Lakes, Roeland van de Geer. Last week, the EU Commissioner for Development, Louis Michel, visited Kinshasa and Kigali to urge the Presidents of both countries to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis.

I also commend the efforts of my British and French counterparts, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, who have been engaged in vigorous diplomatic efforts over the past week, met with Presidents Kabila and Kagame during a visit to the Great Lakes last weekend and briefed colleagues in Marseilles on Monday. At present, it does not appear there is likely to be an ESDP mission, with the focus instead being on support for the United Nations.

Ireland is a significant humanitarian donor to the DRC. Already in 2008, Ireland has committed more than €11 million in humanitarian aid funding and our support to the country since 2006 totals more than €31 million. In response to the worsening crisis, the Government has allocated up to €1 million in extra funding for humanitarian relief in North Kivu. In addition, Irish Aid has allocated more than €8 million in funding to Rwanda since 2006. The European Union has announced an additional €4 million in humanitarian aid for North Kivu.

The crisis in DRC will be high on the agenda when I meet with my EU colleagues at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 10 November.

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