Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister for Foreign Affairs sends his apologies for being unable to attend to take the matter.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has made clear the Government's deep concern at the plight of the war-ravaged Tamil population in the north of Sri Lanka who are the innocent victims of the conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the rebel LTTE, or the Tamil Tigers. Large numbers of men, women and children have been subjected to indiscriminate bombardment by government forces while there is evidence that the Tamil Tigers have been blocking their escape giving rise to allegations that they are using the civilians as human shields. A report from UNICEF yesterday also confirms that the LTTE has intensified forcible recruitment of civilians and that children as young as 14 years old are now being targeted, thus placing their lives at great risk. UNICEF also expresses its extreme alarm at the high number of children being injured in the fighting. I fully endorse its demand that all civilians, especially children, must be given every protection from the fighting.

Through our ambassador in New Delhi, we have made urgent humanitarian representations on behalf of all the innocent people who are suffering there, not failing to remember also the small religious communities who find themselves tragically caught in a conflict which is not of their making but from which they cannot escape. The blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians which has been the norm since the intensification of the conflict over the past two months represents a serious breach of international humanitarian law.

Both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE should agree to an immediate ceasefire. The priority would be to allow unrestricted access to the affected areas by the emergency services, including the ICRC and other humanitarian organisations, so that aid and supplies can be delivered as quickly as possible and that the sick and injured can be evacuated. However, a short term temporary ceasefire is not enough. Although the Sri Lankan Government now seems close to a military victory, a lasting peace settlement will require reconciliation and a political process aimed at protecting the interests of all Sri Lankan citizens and enshrining the principle of parity of esteem among its divided communities.

To this end, the international community should continue to exercise as much pressure as possible. The Minister for Foreign Affairs will attend Monday's meeting of the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council, which will issue important conclusions on the conflict in Sri Lanka. We hope that an EU Troika visit to the country at ministerial level will take place shortly to convey the EU's very serious concerns about the conflict and the humanitarian situation in the country. The Commission has also initiated an examination of whether the Government of Sri Lanka has breached the terms of the human rights provisions in the EU's GSP Plus trade agreement with Sri Lanka.

At the national level, Ireland has consistently taken every opportunity to call for meaningful peace talks and an end to all violence and human rights violations. Consultations with other governments, including with the Government of Norway, which acted as the central facilitator of the ceasefire agreement before it collapsed in January last year, will continue. If the relevant parties seek any advice in regard to a negotiated peace process, we would give consideration as to how we could best help.

Since 2005, the Government has provided, through Irish Aid, more than €5.3 million for humanitarian and development activities in Sri Lanka. In addition, more than US$12 million was allocated from the UN's central emergency response fund to Sri Lanka during 2008. Ireland is currently the seventh largest donor to this fund.

In addition to unearmarked funding to the Red Cross, one of the key organisations at the centre of the response to the humanitarian crisis, Irish Aid is monitoring closely the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka and the provision of emergency funding is under consideration. I will convey the Deputy's views directly to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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