Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of his Department with regard to the ongoing international efforts to ensure that a peacekeeping force is dispatched to Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23776/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the establishment of a UN force for Darfur, Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25163/06]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the establishment of a UN peacekeeping force in the Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25370/06]

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 61 and 150 together.

As Deputies will be aware, on 16 May the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1679 which paves the way for a UN force in Darfur and the transition of the present UN-authorised African Union, AU, mission in Sudan, AMIS, to UN command. A delegation from the UN Security Council undertook a mission to Sudan and Chad, as well as to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 5 to 13 June. The visit is regarded as having been useful, although agreement has not been reached with the Government of Sudan on a transfer of peacekeeping to the United Nations.

Separately, from 5 to 22 June, a joint UN-AU technical assessment team led by the UN under secretary general for peacekeeping operations held wide-ranging discussions with Sudanese leaders aimed at strengthening the AU monitoring force in Darfur and preparing for its possible transition to a fully fledged UN peacekeeping operation. The team held consultations in Khartoum and Darfur to assess the immediate needs for strengthening AMIS which initially will be responsible for helping to implement the peace accord. The team also undertook an assessment of all the requirements for a possible transition from AMIS to a UN force in Darfur.

The under secretary general briefed the Security Council on the team's mission on Tuesday, 27 June. The UN Secretary General will shortly submit recommendations to the Council on all relevant aspects of the mandate of a UN operation in Darfur, further to Resolution 1679. It is understood the Secretary General's report will recommend that planning for transition should proceed but note that transition on the ground will not be possible without the consent of the Government of Sudan.

The United Nations has been engaged for some time in planning and identifying the military capabilities that may be required and commenced consultations with a range of member states, including Ireland, to accelerate the sourcing of these capabilities. Ireland has advised the United Nations that, due to the extension of our engagement in Liberia to May 2007, together with our other substantial commitments to UN peace support operations, we are not now in a position to provide capabilities for the prospective UN mission in Sudan. The situation will, however, be kept under constant review and I can assure the House, as the Taoiseach has personally assured the Secretary General, that Ireland remains committed to peace support operations under a UN flag, including in Africa.

The removal of obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid has been a matter of particular concern to the Government and I am pleased to report that, at Ireland's initiative, the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 June called for action in this regard by all parties in Darfur. Ireland fully supports the conclusions adopted on Sudan by the Council, as well as the declaration adopted by the European Council on 16 June. The General Affairs Council has stated the European Union will work for the full and rapid implementation of the Darfur peace agreement, DPA, and called on all parties to implement the agreement. The Council has made plain its willingness to take measures against those impeding the peace process, as well as its support for the International Criminal Court investigation into human rights abuses in Darfur. The European Union remains committed to helping AMIS through provision of planning, technical, financial and equipment support to both military and police components, taking into account the new tasks arising for AMIS from the DPA.

The Government has been particularly supportive of efforts to improve the situation in Darfur. Members of the Permanent Defence Force have served with the African Union monitoring mission in Sudan, while the Government has contributed €1.5 million in financial support to AMIS to assist with the recruitment of humanitarian and human rights officers and the construction of police stations to improve security in displaced persons' camps. From 2004 to 2005 the Government committed €10 million to Darfur for relief purposes. More than €1 million has been specifically committed to Darfur this year, as well as a further €3.8 million to all of Sudan, including Darfur. The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan will testify to this, as he has done on many occasions.

The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, will travel to Sudan in the first week of July and meet representatives of the Government of Sudan, as well as representatives of the United Nations and non-governmental organisations, NGOs. He will also travel to Darfur to see the situation on the ground in displaced persons' camps.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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It is estimated that the conflict in Darfur has affected 3.6 million people, including 1.8 million internally displaced persons and 200,000 exiled to Chad. Some 200,000 are dead. With this in mind, I am disappointed that we are so stretched we will be unable to contribute to the possible expansion of a peacekeeping force in the region. However, I commend the Minister of State on current efforts. We have to give credit where credit is due.

In view of today's announcement by the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, regarding a new task force of specialists being set up to enter regions in greatest need, will some of the people concerned, when recruited, be sent to Darfur? What discussions have taken place to date on the allocation of specialists to the region?

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We have 460 troops in Liberia where we were requested by the UN Secretary General to maintain a very strong troop complement. The Government has agreed to do so. Our rules oblige us not to have more than 850 members of the Defence Forces out of the country at any one time. We are participating in operations in Liberia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan and the Congo at this time, which means we have reached our limit and are fulfilling our obligations under UN agreements.

Regarding the initiative, confirmed today, taken by the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, this team of specialists will be available to study all regions where support is needed and, if necessary, visit and actively engage in them. The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, and his team will continue to liaise with NGOs and our diplomatic teams around the world and, where necessary, our specialists will be available to assist in humanitarian operations.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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In his meeting with his opposite number in the Government of Sudan in July, will the Minister stress that implementation of the Abuja agreement cannot be left solely to Sudan? Also, will he make proposals for the delivery of logistical and other support to the force that will change from being an AU force to an African sourced UN force?

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Abuja agreement is critically important and was discussed at the European Council by the Taoiseach and his colleagues. It was also discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, by the Minister and me, with our colleagues, and at the Council of Europe. Every diplomatic effort is being made with EU High Representative Solana, the EU Three and others to ensure the agreement comes into operation as rapidly as possible to see the region progress in the interests of humanity. The Minister will certainly raise the issue.