Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the tabling of an all-party motion of Dáil and Seanad Éireann on the crisis in Darfur, urging the Sudanese Government to permit the deployment of a UN force as provided for in Security Council Resolution 1706 and indicating clearly the position of the Irish people in opposing the conflict and loss of life in the region. [34445/06]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the imposition of targeted sanctions against the Sudanese regime leaders and their business interests in view of the failure of that regime to allow the deployment of a UN force in Darfur. [34446/06]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political and security situation within the Darfur region of Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34414/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent meeting with Sudan's Foreign Minister, Mr. Lam Akol, at the UN in which the Minister outlined the Irish Government's concerns regarding the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34478/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions that have taken place between his Department and the Government of Ethiopia with regard to encouraging the Government of Sudan to agree to the deployment of a UN force in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34416/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken or proposes to take, directly or through the EU or UN, to address the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34619/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has held with his counterpart in Sudan with regard to the deployment of a UN force in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34415/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the overtures made to the authorities in Sudan through the EU or UN with a view to dealing with the ongoing issues there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34848/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he will take or initiate to deal with the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34849/06]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government has taken to encourage active UN involvement in order that basic human rights may be experienced by the people of Darfur, West Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34897/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 94, 115, 117, 124, 140, 147 and 217 to 219, inclusive, together.

I would also refer the Deputies to Priority Question No. 76, which I answered today.

While it is a matter for the Oireachtas to decide, I would support the tabling of an all-party motion of Dáil and Seanad Éireann on the crisis in Darfur, urging the Sudanese Government to permit the deployment of a UN force as provided for in Security Council Resolution 1706 and indicating clearly the opposition of the Irish people to the conflict and loss of life in the region.

Last July, I visited Sudan to see conditions in Darfur first-hand and also met the Sudanese Foreign Minister. I told the Minister that Ireland supported transition to a UN force and emphasised the need to improve humanitarian access. The security situation was poor then and has deteriorated significantly since. As the UN Secretary General warned in his report of 5 October, Darfur is at a critical stage, with insecurity at its highest levels and humanitarian access at its lowest levels since 2004. Two rebel factions who refused to sign the May 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement have been intensifying their military activities. Furthermore, those parties who did sign this Agreement, including the Sudanese Government, have been guilty of widespread and significant ceasefire violations. I am particularly concerned at a renewed offensive by the Sudanese Army in Northern Darfur, which is causing further suffering and displacement. The escalating violence is preventing humanitarian organisations from reaching war and drought-affected people. An estimated 224,000 people are currently cut off from food aid.

On 26 September, I raised Ireland's concerns about Darfur in my address to the UN General Assembly and in bilateral meetings in New York with the UN Secretary General and the Sudanese Foreign Minister. I used these occasions to underline that humanitarian aid must be delivered safely and without restrictions; that there must be a transition to a substantial UN peace-keeping force with a robust mandate in Darfur; and that long-term security in Darfur can only be guaranteed by the full implementation of the Peace Agreement. In addition, I reminded my Sudanese counterpart of the need to avoid repeating the tragedy in Rwanda and underlined the plight of the internally displaced in Darfur.

On 17 October, the General Affairs and External Relations Council expressed deep concern at the appalling security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Darfur and called for an immediate end to the ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The Council urged all parties in the strongest terms to halt the violence, to protect civilians and to ensure the full, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Sudanese Government was reminded of its collective and individual responsibility for protecting its citizens from violence and guaranteeing respect for human rights. The Council called on the non-signatories to commit to the Darfur Peace Agreement. On 20 October the Taoiseach discussed Darfur with other EU Heads of State or Government at the Informal European Council in Lahti, Finland.

Until transition to a UN force can take place, AMIS must be strengthened as far as possible, and therefore the EU has given it extensive political, technical and financial support. Ireland has provided €3 million, including €1.5 million pledged in July to ensure that the mission can fulfil its mandate through to the end of this year. Four personnel from the Permanent Defence Forces have also served with AMIS. Since 2004, Ireland has also provided over €16 million in humanitarian assistance to Darfur, including over €6 million during 2006. Overall, Ireland has provided over €32 million to Sudan since 2004. This money has been used to support the active involvement of the specialist UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Irish NGOs on the ground.

The EU, the US, the Arab League and senior African statesmen are continuing efforts to persuade Sudan to accept a UN force in Darfur. However, we need to be prepared to take further steps if the Sudanese position does not change. Ireland and the EU already enforce a comprehensive arms embargo on Sudan, which has been in place since 1994. We also implement a travel ban and assets freeze on a Sudanese airforce commander, a Janjaweed leader and two rebels who have been designated by the UN Security Council as impeding the Darfur peace process.

As regards contacts with the Ethiopian Government, I met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa in July 2006 and I wrote to him on 15 September to urge him to encourage the President of Sudan to accept the deployment of the UN operation in Darfur, with a strong mandate for the protection of civilians and provision of security for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. I also discussed the transition to a UN force with the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia while I was in Addis Ababa and found his approach to this issue to be positive and constructive.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the ongoing disputes between Georgia and the Russian Federation; the initiatives he and his fellow EU Foreign Ministers proposed at their recent meeting in Luxembourg to attempt to make progress in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34497/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Unresolved difficulties in relations between Georgia and Russia give rise to recurring bouts of tension. The problems relate to the persistence of "frozen conflicts" in the separatist Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which unsuccessfully sought independence from Georgia in the aftermath of the dissolution of the former USSR and which continue to be supported politically by Russia. Moreover, since the so-called "Rose Revolution" of 2003, Georgia has strongly pursued membership of NATO and closer links with the EU. Its orientation towards NATO, in particular, is viewed by Russia with suspicion. In response to perceived provocations earlier this year, Russia banned imports of Georgian mineral water and wine, invoking health and safety reasons. It has also closed the only official land crossing between the two countries.

While relations had been deteriorating for some time, it was the arrest on 27 September of 4 Russian officers in Tbilisi for spying which precipitated the current crisis. Thanks to the efforts of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, and following strong interventions from the EU and the US, Georgia released the officers on Oct 2 and they were immediately flown back to Russia. Russia persisted nevertheless in cutting rail, air and postal links and in focusing official attention on the activities of Georgian nationals living in Russia. It has given no sign that it intends to rescind any of these measures. I understand that hundreds of Georgian citizens living in Russia have been deported and that some Georgian-owned businesses have been forced to close. The combined effect of all these measures on the Georgian economy could be substantial.

The EU has been deeply engaged in efforts to resolve this crisis from the start, maintaining close contacts with both sides. The General Affairs and External Relations Council at its meeting on 17 October adopted Conclusions on Georgia/Russian Federation relations which expressed the EU's grave concern at the recent escalation of tensions, stressed the importance of toning down public rhetoric and called upon both sides to reopen normal diplomatic dialogue in order to work towards a normalisation of relations. The Council expressed its grave concern at the economic, political and humanitarian consequences of the measures taken against Georgia. It urged Russia not to pursue measures targeting Georgians living in the Russian Federation and called on both parties to act in a manner consistent with their international commitments and obligations. The Council reiterated the EU's willingness to work with Georgia and Russian to facilitate mutual confidence building and contribute to a peaceful resolution of the crisis. At the informal European Council at Lahti last Friday, the EU's concerns on this matter were conveyed to President Putin.