Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in the context of growing insecurity and greatly reduced humanitarian access in the Darfur region of Sudan, he will increase Ireland's financial support to the African Union mission in Sudan beyond the €1.5 million currently allocated; if he supports an expansion of its mandate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39280/05]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, further to the UN Sudan work plan appeal for $1.7 billion launched last week and the fact that 3.5 million persons in Darfur alone continue to rely on humanitarian assistance, if Ireland is considering increasing the amount of aid provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39279/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress in regard to the war and starvation in the Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39609/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in regard to alleviation of strife and starvation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39612/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 116, 212 and 215 together.

I remain gravely concerned by the humanitarian situation in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The conflict in Darfur has displaced about 1.8 million people during the last two years. Estimates vary but up to 200,000 people have died from the conflict, directly or indirectly.

Recently, the security situation in Darfur has deteriorated with appalling attacks on African Union peacekeepers, internally displaced persons and humanitarian workers. These attacks are greatly hampering the efforts of humanitarian workers and jeopardising the assistance which is being provided to over 2 million people. On 12 December, the General Affairs and External Relations Council condemned the continuing violence in Darfur and expressed concern that the vital delivery of relief supplies was being hampered.

The Council also commended the achievements of the African Union mission in Sudan, AMIS, to date and referred to the financial, technical and logistical support being provided to this mission by the EU and its member states. The EU will participate in a forthcoming review by the African Union of the situation in Darfur and the AMIS operation. This review is expected to also consider the future mandate and funding of AMIS, including the possibility that it may eventually become a UN led operation. Its recommendations will be considered by the African Union's peace and security council and heads of state and government during January 2006. Ireland has provided €1.5 million in funding to AMIS since 2004. The question of providing additional Irish funding or technical support to AMIS will be considered after the mission's future mandate and status have been clarified.

Since the only solution to the crisis in Darfur is a political one, it is crucial that a framework agreement be concluded before the end of 2005 at the African Union mediated peace negotiations in Abuja, Nigeria. It is hoped that the development of a joint negotiation strategy by all the Darfur rebel groups and the presence of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, SPLM, in the Government of National Unity delegation will lend a new dynamic to the process. However, progress to date has been slow. Since the people of Darfur are living in unacceptable circumstances, I call on all parties to put aside their local, regional and national rivalries and negotiate flexibly and constructively, so that a pragmatic solution, leading to a sustainable peace agreement and security on the ground, can be reached during this round.

At the Oslo International Donors Conference in April this year, Ireland pledged support of €15 million to Sudan over the next two years. We are assisting the people of Sudan in moving towards the recovery and rebuilding of their lives. However, I am also conscious that the two and a half million people directly affected by the conflict in Darfur will continue to require humanitarian assistance for some time to come, particularly in the absence of a political resolution.

In 2005, Ireland has provided €9.8 million in support to Sudan. Support of almost €4 million has been provided to address humanitarian needs in Darfur. Ireland's emergency assistance to Darfur in 2005 has been provided to Concern, GOAL, Oxfam Ireland, Médecins sans Frontières and Trócaire, as well as the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, for its crucial co-ordinating role in the overall humanitarian response.

Ireland will collaborate with a number of donor partners in 2006 to provide funding directly to the UN humanitarian co-ordinator in Sudan. This will enable the co-ordinator to receive predictable funding which he will, in turn, earmark for the most urgent priority activities within the UN work plan for 2006. In addition, Ireland will continue to provide funding support for emergency and recovery activities to our other partners in the UN and NGOs. Ireland continues to attach high priority to ensuring that the humanitarian and development needs of Sudan, including Darfur, are met by the international community over the coming years.