Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's views on the recent issue of indictments by the International Criminal Court in the case of participants in the conflict in Northern Uganda; the response of the Lord's Resistance Army; the action the European Union and the United Nations proposes to take and the circumstances which have forced the humanitarian aid agency GOAL to suspend its operations after 22 years in Northern Uganda due to the deteriorating security situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33507/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The International Criminal Court issued indictments on 13 October 2005 for the arrest of five Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, commanders, including the LRA leader, Joseph Kony. This represents a historic development for the court and it is now incumbent on all those involved, including any neighbouring states in which the LRA leaders concerned may be sheltering, to facilitate the arrest of the individuals now indicted. The Government is strongly supportive of the International Criminal Court and would urge that its investigation into all serious violations of human rights committed in Northern Uganda since 1 July 2002, the date of establishment of the ICC, should continue.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council, meeting in Brussels on 7 November, reiterated its concern at the continuing conflict in Northern Uganda which has left more than 1.4 million people living in camps for internally displaced persons. The Council also expressed grave concern at the deteriorating security situation and the recent upsurge in attacks in Northern Uganda which forced the UN and NGOs such as GOAL to suspend their humanitarian operations, though I understand that the UN has now resumed deliveries of humanitarian aid. The primary responsibility for improving security in Northern Uganda rests with the Ugandan Government and the Council has called clearly on the Ugandan Government in this respect to ensure urgently that all of its citizens are protected and provided for.

The EU, for its part, stands ready to provide further assistance to the humanitarian effort and to do what it can to support steps towards reconciliation in Northern Uganda. Ireland has provided humanitarian assistance of €650,000 to date in 2005 to address the humanitarian situation and provision of further assistance for Irish NGOs operating in the region is under active consideration.

The Government, together with our EU partners, will also continue to urge the Ugandan Government to pursue all efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Northern Uganda and to promote the much needed economic and social development of the region. This includes co-operating more closely with neighbouring states to ensure that those indicted by the ICC are now apprehended. It also involves greater efforts by Uganda to promote regional confidence and security, including through full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries within the Great Lakes region.