Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the German development and foreign policy towards Sri Lanka and give the country sustained support on its way to peace. [28492/08]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will advise on a matter (details supplied). [28493/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together.

The situation in Sri Lanka is regularly discussed with EU partners, and the EU continues to play an active role as one of the four Co-Chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka. Ireland is supportive of all efforts to bring about a sustainable and effective solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and to aid development in that country.

I remain deeply concerned by the termination of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in January of this year and the escalating violence in Sri Lanka.

With our EU partners, we have consistently sought to impress on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE the importance of curbing violence and human rights violations and returning to meaningful peace talks. We continue to take the firm view that there can be no military solution and urge all sides to refrain from actions that make a negotiated settlement more difficult to achieve. I welcome the ongoing commitment on the part of the Norwegian Government to facilitate talks between the two sides should they agree to return to the peace process.

Since 2005, Ireland, through Irish Aid has provided more than €5.3 million for humanitarian and development activities in Sri Lanka. This includes significant emergency assistance provided in the aftermath of the tsunami.

Two members of Ireland's Rapid Response Corps have been deployed as Logistics Officers with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sri Lanka, and Irish Aid provided a grant of €250,000 this year to the WFP to strengthen its logistics and preparedness capacity, providing considerable benefits to the wider humanitarian community operating in Sri Lanka.

Ireland is willing to offer advice and assistance in support of the peace process if it is sought by the relevant parties. There currently appears little scope to do so in light of the negative situation within the country. An official from my Department has met with a delegation from the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka and made clear our willingness to work with the Forum on the issue of Sri Lanka and to maintain contacts into the future.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether China is serious regarding Tibet talks with the Dalai Lama. [28494/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It remains my strong view that dialogue is the only peaceful and sustainable way of ensuring the protection of Tibetan religious and cultural identity, as well as addressing Chinese concerns regarding its territorial integrity.

I welcome the meetings on 4 May and 1 July between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama. I regret that the most recent meeting does not seem to have produced any tangible results. However, given the Dalai Lama's repeated public commitment to non-violence and to the autonomy, not independence, of Tibet, and the Chinese government's statement that all issues can be discussed except independence, I believe it should be possible for these meetings to move to more substantial talks, which should address the issue of autonomy, within the framework of the Chinese constitution.

My Department maintains regular contact with the Chinese authorities to convey the Government's ongoing concerns at the situation in Tibet. Through these contacts, we continue to encourage dialogue and to stress the importance that these talks be serious and substantive, addressing real autonomy, within the framework of the Chinese constitution.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support further recent developments in a peace process in Colombia. [28989/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy has previously been informed, Ireland is fully supportive of efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia.

The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. The Justice and Peace Law, which was adopted through a lengthy democratic political process, strikes a difficult balance between peace and justice.

The process of peace negotiations between the Colombian Government and the right-wing paramilitary group, Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) began in 2003, with between 30,000 and 40,000 combatants having been demobilized on completion of the process in 2007. The Government of Colombia is currently engaging in dialogue with the left-wing guerrilla group known as the Ejército de Liberación Nacional de Colombia (ELN) in pursuit of a negotiated peace agreement. Negotiations between the major left-wing guerrilla group, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), and the Government have not yet commenced. In light of recent developments, I would hope that the FARC will now finally agree to engage in negotiations with the Government of Colombia.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union most recently adopted Conclusions on Colombia on 19 November 2007. Ireland was actively involved in the negotiation of these Conclusions, which expressed the EU's total solidarity with the Colombian people, its full support for the Colombian Government in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict and underlined the importance the EU attaches to the ongoing implementation of the Justice and Peace Law.

The Council further expressed its hope that progress would be made in taking forward negotiations in order to reach a humanitarian agreement, to secure the release of all hostages, to end the armed conflict and to bring lasting peace to Colombia. In the same spirit, the Council welcomed all initiatives taken with the Colombian Government's support with the objective of promoting a successful peace process.

My Department continues to monitor the situation in Colombia through our Embassy in Mexico City, which is accredited to Colombia, as well as in cooperation with our EU partners with resident diplomatic missions in that country.