Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to highlight that there is a defence committee meeting this morning, so I will take the Priority Questions and then I will have to depart to attend that.

On my first question, the Tánaiste and I had a brief exchange last week in the committee regarding an area of huge human suffering and human rights infringements. Many people are facing hunger and displacement in Sudan, an area that probably does not get the attention it ought to. I invite the Tánaiste's comment with regard to the Government's position on that situation.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for again raising this issue which, as he said, he rightly raised at the Oireachtas committee in recent weeks.

The Government remains deeply concerned by the conflict and the real humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Since April 2023, the situation has continued to deteriorate and the consequences are now clearly devastating. It is estimated that over 14 million people have fled their homes and almost 25 million people are in acute food insecurity, with some facing famine. The two main parties to the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, are fighting on multiple fronts. Both are now responsible for large-scale attacks on civilians described by the United Nations as amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Recent attacks on Port Sudan and the UN convoy in North Darfur marked a significant escalation in hostilities. The RSF has now gained control of large parts of north Sudan along the Egyptian and Libyan borders. External actors are also providing military support to the parties and peace negotiations have, for all intents and purposes, effectively halted.

Ireland has supported very strong EU messaging on Sudan and we have initiated discussions on sanctions in 2023, which led to the establishment of the EU sanctions regime. Ireland initiated EU Council conclusions on Sudan in 2024, which condemned both the indiscriminate and direct targeting of civilians, called on parties to oblige by their obligations under international law and called for an immediate ceasefire and sustainable resolution of the conflict through dialogue.

We continue to respond to the crisis in close co-ordination with our EU and international partners. At the April Foreign Affairs Council, Ireland raised the urgent need for increased and flexible humanitarian funding and for sustained pressure in support of a cessation of hostilities and a return to negotiations. We have provided €14 million in humanitarian assistance for Sudan and neighbouring countries in 2024. So far this year, we have already provided €7.7 million to the Sudan humanitarian fund and direct funding to NGOs operating in Sudan. We will continue to engage through all diplomatic channels to keep Sudan on the international agenda and to support mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict in the near future.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Sudan is a very significant country in the region with a large population of about 50 million. It is in that context that the scale of what is being faced is to be recognised. Different reports suggest that the number of people displaced is between 9 and 12 million, with some 24.6 million facing acute hunger. That is almost half the population. There are significant ramifications for the surrounding countries. I know many refugees have fled Sudan for Egypt, among other countries, and the conflict seems to be escalating. I welcome the commitment to aid. I might ask if the recent cutbacks in USAID have had any impact on projects in Sudan and support for them. I welcome the positions taken by the Government internationally. Has any discussion taken place on an arms embargo with regard to the conflict?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The first thing to say is that we will at least match the level of humanitarian aid to Sudan this year that we provided last year. We have already provided €7.7 million this year. We provided €14 million last year and we will at least match the €14 million this year. That is an additional commitment from the Government to do more with regard to help for the most appalling humanitarian situation.

We have also, through my own Department, provided financial support to Irish journalists to travel to Chad and report on the desperate situation in the refugee camps. A view we would all share is that there has not been visibility with regard to this humanitarian crisis in the same way as there rightly has been with regard to others. It is important that we continue to keep visibility on this situation too. The Taoiseach will continue to raise this at the European Council. I will continue to raise it at the Foreign Affairs Council and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, at the GAC.

On USAID, I do not have a specific note with regard to Sudan but there is no doubt in my mind that the USAID cuts are going to have desperate effects everywhere. I do not believe Sudan will be spared the impact.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That point of awareness is very important here and at European level. We had discussions post-European Council recently. At a European level it does not seem to me that this is getting the attention it ought to either. I might ask that at future European discussions, Ireland makes sure this will appear on the agenda. I appreciate that lots of conflicts are being discussed there, including within Europe, but is important that it reaches that level.

I note, and the Tánaiste mentioned it, that a significant part of this conflict seems to be sustained by external actors both through funding and supplying arms. A particular piece in the New York Times recently referred to the support being received by the Rapid Support Forces. Can the Tánaiste comment on that and whether the Irish Government has raised its concerns with the governments potentially providing such support?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not certain whether we have raised them directly, or not with those individual countries, but we have certainly raised them through the European Union. I would point out that we now have an EU special representative for the area, Dr. Annette Weber, who is doing very excellent work. We raised Sudan at the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will represent Ireland at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council where we will seek to raise this again. We are part of a core group of like-minded EU member states. The most recent meeting of that like-minded EU member state group took place on 23 June to discuss how the EU can take a more collective approach to Sudan, so perhaps this is something we can return to after the next series of engagements we have.

The reality is that there are many countries and entities, including the European Union, ready to play a part in mediation and in trying to find a way forward but at the moment, being quite frank, interest in that seems to have halted. We have to look at what we can do to maximise the pressure to get both parties back to a negotiating table.