Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present position of the Saharawi region, and initiatives to which Ireland has been party in this regard. [10511/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has consistently been a strong supporter of the right to self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara. Ireland played a prominent role in seeking a solution to the Western Sahara dispute during its term on the UN Security Council, and has remained active on the issue at the United Nations and in discussions at EU level. Ireland worked with our EU partners and other interested parties to ensure the adoption of the resolution on the Western Sahara at the UN General Assembly in December 2006.

The Government strongly supports the continuing engagement of the UN in working for a political solution in the Western Sahara based on the principle of self-determination. We remain convinced that the plan presented in 2003 by the former US Secretary of State, James Baker, acting as the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, represents the best framework available for a negotiated settlement. It envisages a preparatory phase under UN supervision and a referendum to determine the future of the territory. The plan was endorsed by the UN Security Council, but has not been implemented.

The Government of Morocco is currently preparing a proposal for the future of the Western Sahara, based on devolved autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. I look forward to studying this proposal when it has been completed. Ireland has not taken a position on the future of the territory, be it full independence, autonomy, or integration under Moroccan sovereignty. The important point is that the status of the territory should be decided in a genuine exercise of self-determination by the people of the Western Sahara.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position in relation to Darfur; and the actions he anticipates being considered in relation to Sudan by the security council. [10522/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of contact between his Department and the Government of Sudan in ensuring adherence to United Nations declarations aimed at restoring peace to Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10411/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the most up to date position in Darfur, and in particular the ongoing difficulties being experienced with regard to a joint African Union/United Nations force being sent into the region; the position of Ireland on the matter; the assistance Ireland may be able to provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10501/07]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political and security situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10398/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 120, 127 and 129 together.

The Government is deeply concerned about the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan and is using all avenues to support international efforts to address the grave political, security and humanitarian challenges faced there.

In my direct contacts with the Sudanese Foreign Minister in July and September 2006, I emphasised the necessity of his Government's agreement to UN engagement in peacekeeping in Darfur, the need to make political progress on foot of the Darfur Peace Agreement of May 2006 and the importance of improving humanitarian access in Darfur to avert further tragic consequences. In recent months, through my contacts with states and organisations capable of influencing Sudan, such as Egypt, South Africa, the UN and Arab League, I have relayed these same clear messages, underlining Ireland's strong support for the establishment of a joint AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force and for the UN and African Union's new drive to restart the peace process. I discussed these issues with the UN Special Envoy on Darfur, Mr. Jan Eliasson on 24 January last. Most recently, on 14 March, the Taoiseach spoke of the situation in Darfur with UN Secretary General Ban in New York. The Taoiseach and I also discussed this issue with President Bush in the White House last Friday. During his three visits to the country since December 2006, the Irish Ambassador to Sudan has reiterated our policy in his official contacts.

The security situation in Darfur has continued to deteriorate during 2007 as a result of renewed hostilities between the Government of Sudan and rebel factions, the Sudanese airforce's bombing of rebel sectors, numerous militia attacks on civilians and an increase in banditry and inter-ethnic conflict. Humanitarian workers and members of the African Union force in Sudan (AMIS) are also being targeted and, on 5 March, two AMIS force protection officers were killed in the course of their duties.

Recognising that humanitarian aid cannot be delivered in the complete absence of stability and AMIS's urgent need for funding in advance of the establishment of the AU-UN hybrid force, on 1 March a further €2 million contribution to AMIS was approved, bringing Ireland's total bilateral contribution to €5m since 2004. Three members of our Permanent Defence Forces also serve as part of the EU's direct military support for AMIS. Our support for AMIS is part of a larger package of humanitarian support for Sudan and Darfur. In the period 2004-2007, €29.7 million in emergency and recovery funding has been provided to Sudan, including €19 million for Darfur.

The UN and AU Special Envoys for Darfur, Mr Jan Eliasson and Dr Salim Salim, are pressing ahead with efforts to secure a full political agreement in Darfur. Mr Eliasson is currently consulting with key regional leaders on the peace facilitation process, and he and Dr Salim will return to Sudan for another joint mission before the end of March.

Progress on implementing UN support for AMIS has been mixed. The deployment of the first phase of UN support for AMIS in Darfur is well advanced, but President Bashir has failed to approve the second phase "heavy support package" which was presented to him by the African Union and UN on 24 January 2007. In a letter of 6 March, he also appeared to question key aspects of the phased approach to strengthening peacekeeping in Darfur. On the planning side, UN and AU preparations for the third phase, a large hybrid AU-UN force, are well advanced. This month, they agreed a framework for the hybrid mission, and selected the Force Commander and a joint UN-AU representative to lead the mission.

The Government believes that it is essential that implementing the outstanding phases of UN support proceed as soon as practicable. Like my EU colleagues, I remain frustrated by and deeply concerned at the continued apparent unwillingness of some parties — including, I regret to say, the Sudanese Government itself — to engage in a genuine way with the peace process. It is for this reason that on 5 March EU Foreign Ministers underlined our support for urgent consideration by the UN Security Council of further measures that may be taken against those impeding the peace process. The issue of possible further measures also arose in the discussions that the Taoiseach and I had last week in New York and Washington. While we can not predict the full extent of the measures the Security Council will consider, the options under consideration may include the extension of the arms embargo on Darfur to the whole of Sudan, adding to the list of individuals subject to targeted sanctions and economic sanctions on companies involved in Sudan.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he directly or through the EU or the UN has been in a position to address the ongoing issues in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10457/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The situation in the ecologically and politically fragile region of the Horn of Africa is a high priority for Ireland, the EU and the United Nations. The problems faced by the countries of the region include the ongoing conflicts in Darfur and Somalia; a prolonged stalemate in the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process; and the need to rebuild southern Sudan following decades of civil war. At a regional level, there are major development challenges such as recurrent food security problems, environmental degradation, severe infrastructural weaknesses and poor governance. These issues are being addressed through a combination of political initiatives, peace-keeping operations, and emergency, humanitarian and development assistance.

The UN Security Council regularly discusses Horn of Africa issues, and the UN Secretary General has described the crisis in Darfur as his top priority. UN agencies such as UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR and UNDP are working to address the humanitarian and development needs of the region. There are currently two UN peacekeeping missions in the Horn of Africa — UNMEE on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border and UNMIS in Sudan. The UN and African Union Special Envoys for Darfur are working to start negotiations between the parties to the Darfur Peace Agreement and non-signatory rebel groups. Just a few days ago, the Taoiseach discussed our concerns about the situation in Darfur with the UN Secretary General.

EU Foreign Ministers have discussed developments in both Sudan and Somalia regularly at their meetings over recent months. The EU actively supports the restoration of peace and stability in Somalia and is one of the Witnesses of the 2000 Algiers Peace Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea. An EU Special Envoy for Sudan, Mr Pekka Haavisto, was appointed in July 2005. Most of the EU's €250 million African Peace Facility (APF) has been used in support of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). A further €15 million of those funds will be provided for the African Union's peace support operation in Somalia (AMISOM).

In the EU context, I have participated actively in efforts to promote political progress and improvements in the humanitarian situation in Darfur, and to ensure that essential UN support to AMIS can go forward as soon as possible. The EU has implemented an arms embargo against Sudan since 1994. On 5 March 2007, with Ireland's strong support, EU Foreign Ministers expressed their readiness to consider further measures, notably in the UN framework, against any party which obstructs implementation of the AU-UN hybrid force. We also supported urgent consideration by the UN Security Council of further measures against those impeding the peace process.

The European Commission's October 2006 Communication on 'EU partnership for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa,' sets out a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention in the region. In 2004, the last year for which there are complete figures, total European Commission development aid to the six Horn of Africa countries amounted to over €240 million. The European Commission intends to make over €60 million available for security, reconciliation and governance in Somalia in the coming months.

Addressing the problems of the Horn of Africa, and especially in Darfur, is a priority for me personally. I travelled to Sudan and to Ethiopia in July 2006 to see the situation on the ground for myself. In my contacts with the Sudanese Foreign Minister then, and again and September 2006, I highlighted the need for meaningful action to bring peace and security to Darfur, and to protect the delivery of humanitarian aid to the vulnerable. In recent contacts with Egypt, South Africa, the Arab League, the UN and last week with President Bush, I have urged them to use their influence with the Sudanese Government for the same purpose.

Ireland also supports the development of the Horn of Africa region through our aid programme. Ethiopia is one of Irish Aid's priority countries, and Irish bilateral aid to Ethiopia was about €30 million in 2006, focused at improving the lives of the rural poor. Total Irish Aid emergency, humanitarian and NGO funding to Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Kenya since 2004 comes to over €86 million. This includes €19 million for Darfur. Acknowledging that humanitarian aid cannot be delivered without some degree of stability on the ground, Ireland has given bilateral support to AMIS totalling €5 million, including the €2 million which I approved on 28 February. We have also deployed three members of Ireland's Defence Forces in support of AMIS.