Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland is taking to seek to bring about an end to the conflict in Sudan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65828/25]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will provide an update on the ongoing conflict in Sudan, including the humanitarian impact on civilians, the status of diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, and the supports Ireland is providing through humanitarian and development channels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66720/25]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

97. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the situation in Sudan; her engagement with allies on the conflict; if Ireland will be providing increased levels of aid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66301/25]

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question Nos. 13, 35 and 97 are grouped and Deputy Smith is in the House, so he can lead.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I am very thankful we are having statements on Sudan this afternoon. This question was submitted in advance of knowing that. I am looking for any update or information to the Minister can provide the House with in regard to what we are doing as a State in humanitarian terms to help alleviate, tackle, better understand or deal with the genocide, travesty and violence that is taking place in Sudan.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 35 and 97 together.

I thank Deputy Smith, as I did Deputy Ó Laoghaire, for raising this matter consistently. It is going to be a very important debate this afternoon. The Government remains deeply concerned by the devastating conflict in Sudan, which has led to the world’s worst humanitarian and protection crisis. More than 150,000 people have already been killed, some 12 million are forcibly displaced and over 21 million people face crisis levels of hunger, including famine. This is a man-made famine. I am appalled by the targeting of civilians by all parties to the conflict. I condemn the atrocities committed in El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces, RSF, and the escalating violence in North Darfur. Large-scale, ethnically motivated atrocities, including summary executions, sexual and gender-based violence and the detention of civilians are part of a widespread pattern, including the use of rape and starvation as weapons of war.

These actions are unconscionable and must stop. There must be accountability and justice for such atrocities. Ireland, together with Germany, the UK, Netherlands and Norway, succeeded in ensuring the adoption of a resolution on the situation in El Fasher at a special session of the Human Rights Council on 14 November. The resolution requests the independent international fact-finding mission for Sudan to conduct an urgent inquiry into the violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in and around El Fasher. The environment of impunity in Sudan simply must end.

Ireland has taken a leading role within the EU on the establishment of the EU sanctions regime. The EU Foreign Affairs Council in October adopted Council conclusions strongly condemning the ongoing conflict. Ireland successfully called for Sudan to be placed on the agenda at this month’s EU Foreign Affairs Council, which adopted restrictive measures against a senior RSF commander.

The international community needs to exert greater pressure on the parties to return to the negotiating table and to engage in dialogue. I welcome the ongoing work of the Quad, including efforts to negotiate a three-month humanitarian truce. It is vital that there is substantive political engagement and co-ordination between the European Union, the African Union, the Quad and other international and national actors on de-escalation and mediation efforts. We will continue to work internationally with our EU and other partners to call on all parties to adhere to their obligations to protect civilians and aid workers, and to ensure immediate, unconditional and unhindered humanitarian access in full compliance with international humanitarian law.

In June, I signed a joint statement by 30 donor countries condemning attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers. I also joined an Australian-led declaration for the protection of humanitarian workers at the UN General Assembly in New York in September. Ireland has provided €14.3 million in humanitarian assistance so far in 2025 to support people most in need in Sudan and those displaced in neighbouring countries. This assistance is channelled through trusted UN, Red Cross, Irish NGO and local partners to provide life-saving aid. We are committed to further increasing our assistance in 2026.

Ultimately, an agreement on a cessation of hostilities must be reached in order to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. This must be followed by a negotiated, permanent, peaceful and civilian-led political settlement that respects the territorial integrity of Sudan.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is clear to me that Ireland is taking this very seriously and is acting in our capacity, as much as we can, to support what is a very complex situation. I read one article that said the history of war in Sudan has both a long history and a short history, and both are very complicated. The numbers the Minister of State articulated in his response are absolutely astronomical. The velocity of violence taking place there is almost beyond comprehension. We have spent the last hour and a half here talking about, among other things, the illegal war in Ukraine and the ongoing tragedy and crisis in Palestine and Gaza, which are not insignificant by any means, but we need to do everything we can with our partners in the EU and the United Nations to ensure Sudan gets the attention it needs and deserves to bring the war, violence and killing to an end.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The history of war in Sudan is awful and bloody. It is also complex with regard to the parties to the war. We can talk about the RSF and the Government but we can also talk about various tribal militias who are agnostic with regard to who they side with in pursuit of their bloody aims.

This conflict is of a scale that is perhaps unfathomable to this House, to be honest. It is as bad as anything the continent has seen and while we are living in really difficult geopolitical times, it is no underestimation to say this is possibly the worst conflict but certainly the worst humanitarian disaster happening in the world at the moment. It is a humanitarian disaster that is awful but it also having a real impact, materially, on the daily lives of the people who the Deputy and I represent in our constituencies. We should never lose that focus in regard to why it is not only the right thing for Ireland to be involved in this and provide that support but it is also the sensible thing.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is a really good assessment. It is unfathomable and difficult. As complex as any conflict is, sometimes such as in relation to Russia and Ukraine, it is clear who the aggressor is. It is clear who we are supporting and what side we are on. It is far more complex in Sudan with the nature of the belligerents, both the short and long history of conflict there and the nature of the type of violence itself. There are no easy answers here and Ireland certainly does not have the capacity on its own to solve this humanitarian crisis and bring it to an end. We must ensure that people in Sudan and the Sudanese people who are here know that the Irish Parliament, Government and State are doing everything we can with our allies and partner states to try to end the violence and the humanitarian disaster taking place. I thank the Minister of State for his response.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising the very large Sudanese population that lives here in Ireland. When we see things in the abstract and we look at news reports and everything else, we forget that these are people's family members and friends. These are people living in our constituencies who are worried about their family and friends and not knowing what the future holds.

In regard to Ireland's role, there are three major things we will continue to press. One is a call, with our partners, for an immediate cessation of the violence. Second, it will be for the real enforcement of the arms embargoes that have been place. Third and most importantly, it is the maintenance of our humanitarian support. As I said, we have allocated €4.3 million this year. That will include an additional €3 million announced by the Tánaiste and I in New York in September at the UN General Assembly but also real pressure to make sure humanitarian corridors are maintained. I have said it before in the House that 2025 is the most dangerous, deadly year to be a humanitarian aid worker in the world. The deaths of humanitarian workers in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine are unfathomable.