Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent measures the European Union has taken against the Sudanese Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3800/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position in relation to Darfur and the welfare of those forced into refugee camps and those displaced; and the Government's views on present prospects for political progress. [3685/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 110 together.

The situation in Darfur remains dire, and the suffering of its people continues unabated, and the fracturing of the main rebel groups over the past year makes the pursuit of peace even more difficult. The peace talks on Darfur which the UN and African Union are mediating represent a vital window of opportunity to bring about a lasting peace, and all of the parties bear a responsibility to use this opportunity to seek to resolve their grievances peacefully. So far, the process has been disappointingly slow. The UN and AU have sent emissaries to find and speak with the rebels who have been boycotting the talks, and it is hoped that formal talks will restart soon. The international community is supporting AU and UN efforts, and bilaterally Ireland has contributed €500,000 to the UN Trust Fund in support of the peace talks.

Although peace will not come to Darfur until a political accommodation has been reached, UNAMID, the AU/UN hybrid force, has a role to play in re-establishing a secure environment and creating a breathing-space for the people of Darfur while negotiations continue. However, UNAMID, which took over from the African Union Mission in Sudan on 1 January 2008, is being hampered by the obstructive attitude of the Sudanese authorities to non-African participation.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council of 28 January was briefed by UN Special Envoy Jan Eliasson on progress. We expressed our support for the pursuit and implementation of political solutions in Darfur and between north and south Sudan; condemned obstruction of, and a recent attack on, UNAMID; stressed the importance of unfettered humanitarian access; and called for full co-operation with the International Criminal Court. We also urged Sudan and Chad to refrain from incursions into each other's territory and support for rebel groups. In this regard, reports that Sudan is actively supporting the current insurgency in Chad are very disturbing

I welcome the fact that the GAERC has decided to keep the option of further sanctions on the table until we are sure that the Sudanese Government, as well as other parties, are co-operating fully with the peace process, with UNAMID, and with humanitarian actors.

The humanitarian situation in Darfur remains very difficult, with the ongoing conflict continuing to limit humanitarian access to parts of North and West Darfur. The World Food Programme aims to provide food assistance to 5.6 million people in Sudan in 2008, including 3.7 million in Darfur. Since the start of 2006, Irish Government assistance to the people of Sudan, including Darfur, has amounted to almost €39 million. This includes funding of over €6 million since the start of 2008.