Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33289/05]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the Government on an expansion of the mandate and troop capacity of the African Union Mission in Sudan in the context of the serious disintegration of the situation in Darfur, Sudan; if the Government intends to make available additional funding and technical and logistical capacity to AMIS; his views on the implication of the recent decision of the AU Peace and Security Council to refer the matter to the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33503/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33755/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 48 and 146 together.

The North-South Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Nairobi on 9 January 2005 was a major step forward, providing new hope for the future of Sudan. A new Government of National Unity was established in July, when the new constitution came into effect. Following the accidental death in a plane crash of First Vice-President and southern leader Dr. John Garang in July 2005, Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit was appointed to replace him. Both he and President Bashir have reiterated their determination to ensure the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Formation of the Government of National Unity was completed in September. The interim constitution for south Sudan has also been finalised and an autonomous regional Government for South Sudan was formed on 22 October.

While the political context is still very sensitive, overall significant progress is being made towards establishing stability. However, the challenges of the humanitarian situation in south Sudan remain enormous.

While progress has been made in the north-south context, I am afraid that the political and humanitarian situation in the Darfur region remains a matter of the deepest concern. I conveyed this concern to the Sudanese Acting Foreign Minister when I met him in September in New York. More than 2 million people have been displaced from their homes, including 200,000 who have crossed into Chad, as a result of the conflict in Darfur. These highly vulnerable populations are currently located in IDP and refugee camps.

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. Ireland fully supports the African Union-mediated peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria which are due to resume on 21 November. Little progress was made at the last round of talks held in October due to a split in the SLM-A rebel group, which the international community is currently working hard to resolve. The aim is to have all parties fully represented at a high level when the talks resume, and press them to commit themselves to finding a just and lasting peace settlement for Darfur before the end of 2005. I urge all parties to meet this objective.

The Government fully supports the African Union's crucial role in Darfur, including the very valuable work of its observer mission, AMIS, in addressing the security situation. Following AMIS's initial deployment a marked reduction in violence followed. In April, the AU decided to expand AMIS from 3,200 to more than 7,700 personnel and approximately 6,773 are currently deployed.

The June General Affairs and External Relations Council approved a joint action by the European Union providing civilian and military support to AMIS, appointed Mr. Pekka Haavisto as EU Special Representative for Sudan and allocated of € 2.12 million for this purpose. The EU has also provided €92 million from the Africa Peace Facility for AMIS and will shortly allocate a further €70 million. NATO is also supplying logistical support to AMIS. In 2004-2005, Ireland has allocated €1.5 million to AMIS which is being used for human rights, humanitarian and policing aspects of the mission. The Government has also made available an officer from the Permanent Defence Forces to serve as a logistics planner in supporting the expansion of AMIS. An Army officer served as an EU observer with the mission up to June 2005.

It is deeply regrettable that there has been a recent escalation in violence in west Darfur, with attacks on internally displaced persons, IDPs, humanitarian workers and members of the African Union mission in Sudan. The General Affairs and External Relations Council on 7 November strongly condemned these attacks and called on all sides to rein in fighters involved in the recent clashes in Darfur. The UN Security Council has also condemned these attacks. The current AMIS mandate runs to January 2006 and the African Union will shortly undertake a review of the situation in Darfur and AMIS operations. This review, in which the EU will participate, is expected to also consider the future funding and mandate of AMIS.