Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Sudan; the humanitarian assistance that is being made available to the affected regions in that country; the security assistance that will be made available by Ireland to Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18618/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community is capable of bringing to an end the unsatisfactory situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18858/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 170 together.

The political and humanitarian situation in the Darfur region of Sudan remains a matter of the deepest concern for Ireland. The Government continues to use all avenues open to it to urge action in addressing the urgent humanitarian, security and political challenges which exist there. While the overall level of violence in Darfur has stabilised in recent months, the situation, as Secretary General Annan stated last week when visiting the region, remains unacceptable, with over 100,000 people having died as a direct or indirect result of the conflict and 2 million people forced to flee their homes. Sustained international pressure needs to be exerted on all the parties to honour their commitments, improve the security situation and achieve a speedy political settlement.

The African Union's observer mission, AMIS, in Darfur is playing an extremely valuable role in addressing the security situation in Darfur. It has been demonstrated that where AMIS is deployed in Darfur, a marked reduction in violence follows. There is a clear need, however, to increase further the size of the AMIS mission, if the situation on the ground is to be fully stabilised and suitable conditions created for the safe return of internally displaced persons, IDPs, and refugees. I therefore welcome the recent decision by the AU to expand its mission from 3,200 to more than 7,700 personnel. The strong support evident at the donors conference held in Addis Ababa last week at which US$300 million was pledged to assist with the planned expansion of AMIS demonstrates the international community's confidence in the African Union's efforts to try to resolve the Darfur conflict.

The External Relations Council agreed on 23 May that the EU should lend all possible support to AMIS's military, police and civilian efforts and a specific package of assistance, focusing on logistical and planning support, was outlined by High Representative Solana at the donors conference in Addis Ababa. Ireland was also represented at the Addis Ababa meeting and has pledged to provide additional financial support for the expansion of AMIS, subject to further discussion on details, as part of the overall EU package of support. I informed the UN Secretary General yesterday that we will be contributing an additional €1 million; it is intended that this further contribution will be earmarked for the humanitarian and human rights components of the AMIS mission. This will be in addition to the €500,000 for the humanitarian and human rights elements of AMIS which Ireland provided last year. An officer from the Permanent Defence Force is also serving as an EU observer with the AMIS mission, though his assignment will finish at the end of June 2005 and we are in a position to offer the services of a logistics planner at lieutenant colonel level for an expanded AMIS mission.

The African Union is also playing a key role in efforts to achieve a political resolution to the conflict in Darfur. Peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria under African Union auspices between the Government of Sudan and the two Darfur rebel groups, SLM/A and JEM, are scheduled to resume on 10 June.

In 2004, Ireland responded to the crisis in Darfur by providing €6.38 million in assistance to the region. This funding was delivered rapidly to assist the life-saving work of non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and the Red Cross family. Ireland's funding was utilised to provide food and essential non-food items to help families and individual s survive.

The Minister of State with responsibility for development co-operation and human rights, Deputy Conor Lenihan, visited Sudan from 3-8 April. During his visit he met a wide range of UN representatives, including the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Jan Pronk. He also met Government Ministers, NGOs, the Red Cross, community leaders and regional leaders. The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, witnessed the important work of the aid agencies at first hand and pledged that Ireland would continue to assist in meeting immediate emergency needs and also longer term development activities when possible. In his discussions with the Sudanese authorities, he stressed the importance of the restoration of peace and security in Darfur as soon as possible; the need for all parties to the conflict to negotiate in good faith and reach an early political agreement; and the need for the Government of Sudan to co-operate fully with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially that relating to the International Criminal Court.

The visit by the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to Sudan took place immediately before the major donors' conference on Sudan which was held in Oslo on 11-12 April. The conference pledged approximately €4.5 billion for Sudan up to 2007. While recognising that the peace agreement represents a new beginning for Sudan, participants emphasised the need to build on the agreement and to bring peace and stability to all of Sudan, including Darfur and the east of the country. At the Oslo conference, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, pledged €15 million to Sudan over the next two years. This funding will be used to meet immediate needs such as food security, return of the displaced and basic education and will also to begin to address the long-term development needs of the Sudan. To date this year the Government has approved funding of €2.6 million for emergency and humanitarian programmes in the Darfur region and south Sudan. These programmes are being operated by Irish and international NGOs and include nutrition, basic health care, water and sanitation, seeds and tools and assistance to internally displaced persons.