Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 11: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that the high level of militarisation in north-eastern Sri Lanka is directly linked to most of the other problems prevalent in the area such as the breakdown in the social fabric, state brutality including sexual assault, land grabs and occupation and that it is completely unacceptable that more than two years since the conclusion of the war, the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to facilitate the proper transition of these areas from a situation of conflict to a normal environment. [33718/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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While there have been some improvements in living conditions in the north and east of Sri Lanka, areas formerly held by the LTTE, there are still many matters of concern. The north and east remains heavily militarised. The Sri Lankan army is closely involved in daily life, with the local population under surveillance by soldiers and military intelligence.

I am concerned at reports of continued violence against the local population by the Sri Lankan military. Suggestions that people are being moved into the north and east from other parts of Sri Lanka are extremely worrying. Approximately two-thirds of the people who were displaced by the war have now returned home. The intention of the Government of Sri Lanka in regard to the remainder are unclear. In September 2011, the Emergency Powers Regulation and the Prevention of Terrorism Regulation were not renewed. However, the more comprehensive Prevention of Terrorism Act remains in force.

Despite the best efforts of the United Nations and the wider international community, the Sri Lankan Government has, to date, refused to co-operate with the Panel of Experts on Accountability appointed by UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon and has failed to address the recommendations contained in their report concerning allegations of atrocities and human rights violations during the war. Ireland is supportive of the mandate of the UN Secretary General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka. I urge the government in Colombo to co-operate fully with the UN and address the recommendations made by the panel.

A Lessons Learned and Rehabilitation Committee, with a limited mandate, was established by the Government of Sri Lanka in May 2010. The committee's focus was on restorative justice, not on tackling impunity for actions during the war. It is due to submit its report by 15 November 2011.

Overall, there is an urgent need to initiate a comprehensive peace and reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. It would be important to address impunity and the crimes of the past as part of that process. Officials from my Department have conveyed our positions to the Sri Lankan authorities, directly in bilateral contacts and in multilateral fora, including through the European Union and at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and at the UN in New York.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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I have a detailed report before me about the ongoing grave situation in what would be considered Tamil areas in the north and east of Sri Lanka from which I will read a particular sentence. I could read the whole report but the Ceann Comhairle would not allow me do that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Certainly not. The Deputy is not allowed quote from documents during Question Time.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The question will follow from this. It states that families must-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is not allowed quote from documents during Question Time. It is against Standing Orders.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Okay. When families in that area are receiving guests they must inform the army who the guests are and that is the case for any family event. The intrusion and the sense of humiliation and subjugation goes down even to the right to associate within one's community and have a social event in one's home.

What is the United Nations doing allowing these types of situations to continue when civil society, NGOs and people whose credibility is beyond question are circulating these reports? This is a horrendous report about what is happening in the region. What message are we sending out to these regimes?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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First, Ireland has played an active part in the European Union and particularly in the decision in 2010 to suspend duty free access for Sri Lankan exports under the generalised system of preferences after the Sri Lankan Government failed to deliver a written undertaking on human rights conventions dealing with torture, children's rights and political rights. Second, Ireland is active at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, most recently at the council session in September, highlighting the human rights situation in Sri Lanka as one of the most important human rights problems to be addressed by the international community. Ireland was also instrumental at EU level in including concerns about Sri Lanka in discussions with at the UN General Assembly and we support the continuing work of the UN mission in Sri Lanka and the recommendations by the UN panel of experts in their report on accountability in Sri Lanka.

In addition to that, Irish Aid is providing humanitarian funding. Almost €0.5 million in humanitarian funding has been provided to Sri Lanka since 2009.