Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he has taken or will take in response to the request of the UN Secretary General for more financial support to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur. [23899/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains fully supportive of the African Union's crucial role in attempts to resolve the ongoing political, security and humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The AU's observer mission, AMIS, in particular, 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, though, to increase further the size of the AMIS mission if the situation locally is to be fully stabilised and suitable conditions created for the safe return of internally displaced persons, IDPs, and refugees.

I welcome the recent decision by the AU Peace and Security Council 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 month at which $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 and 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 the High Representative, Mr. Javier Solana, at the donors conference in Addis Ababa. Ireland was also represented at the Addis Ababa meeting and pledged to provide additional financial support for the expansion of AMIS as part of the overall EU package of support. I subsequently informed the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, when I met him in New York on 2 June that Ireland would contribute an additional €1 million to support the expanded AMIS operation. It is intended that this further contribution will be earmarked for the humanitarian and human rights components of the AMIS mission. This is in addition to the €500,000 for the humanitarian and human rights elements of AMIS that Ireland provided last year.

The Government has also agreed to make available an officer from the Permanent Defence Force to serve as a logistics planner in supporting the expansion of AMIS. An Army officer has also served as an EU observer with the AMIS mission, though his 12-month assignment will finish at the end of this month. Ireland's support to AMIS is in addition to €15 million that has been pledged 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 begin to address the long-term development needs of the Sudan.