Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in Burma, particularly in the view of the first anniversary of the 2007 Saffron Revolution and its subsequent military clampdown as well as the further tragedies suffered in the country due to Cyclone Nargis; and the support of a financial as well as humanitarian and diplomatic kind which Ireland has offered over the past year. [34182/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The situation in Burma remains of major concern. There has been a conspicuous absence of political progress since the Saffron Revolution in September 2007, and repression by the military of monks, political activists and others continues. In May, the military junta pressed ahead with a fundamentally flawed referendum on a new Constitution for Burma. At the same time, they also extended the detention order on Aung San Suu Kyi for a further six months. I immediately condemned this action and renewed the Government's call for her release.

As regards to the humanitarian situation following Cyclone Nargis, this is still very difficult but, thanks to facilitation efforts by the UN and ASEAN and the generous response of the international community, the Burmese people most affected are being actively assisted in their recovery efforts. In this regard, over €1.35 million in Irish Aid funding was provided to the emergency relief effort, as well as two airlifts of essential humanitarian supplies from our pre-positioned emergency stockpiles in Brindisi, Italy and in the Curragh.

As I highlighted in my address to the UN General Assembly last month, the continued reluctance by the Burmese authorities to engage seriously over the past twelve months with the Good Offices Mission of the UN Secretary General is gravely disappointing. The Government continues to support actively the work of the Secretary General, his Special Representative, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, and the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma. I believe the roles of the Special Representative, and of the Secretary General personally, are vital to the long-term goals of real democratisation and national reconciliation in Burma, especially in relation to ensuring that the process leading up to the elections promised in 2010 will be as inclusive as possible.

In recent weeks, we have marked not only the first anniversary of the Saffron Revolution but also the twentieth anniversary of the 8-8-88 uprising. As I stated at the time of that commemoration, Ireland remains committed to helping the Burmese people in their struggle for democracy. In pursuit of this goal, the Government has engaged in diplomatic activity at Ministerial and senior official level with Burma's neighbours and in international fora. During my recent visit to the UN, I raised the situation in Burma in the course of discussions with senior UN officials and with the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, who is also deeply concerned about the situation there.

The Government have also worked to enhance the EU's role in supporting the people of Burma, including securing the extension of sanctions against the regime in December 2007. The Government has ensured that the issue remained high on the Council's agenda throughout the last twelve months, promoting and supporting European Council and GAERC Conclusions on Burma on a number of occasions in 2007 and 2008.

My Department has also continued to work closely with the Burmese community and friends of Burma in Ireland, including supporting the work of Burma Action Ireland. We have likewise maintained close working relations with the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) — Burma's government in exile. In June I launched a comprehensive report on the brutal suppression of Burma's September 2007 public protests, 'Bullets in the Alms Bowl'. This was produced by the NCGUB and funded by my Department.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the general position in Iraq; his views on reports regarding the danger to 4,000 Iranians living in Ashraf city upon that city being handed over from American to Iraqi forces in view of their threatened deportation to Iran resulting in their lives being in danger. [34181/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Overall, there has been a substantial improvement in the security situation in Iraq over the last 18 months. This has been based both on intensified security actions by Iraqi and international forces, and on internal progress in reconciliation and political accommodation, which we have always stressed as an essential element in resolving Iraq's problems.

While the level of violence remains unacceptably high, there is no doubt that the improvement on the streets in Iraq has changed the political atmosphere, and provided space in which political action to achieve real inter-communal reconciliation may now be possible. It is essential that this opportunity be fully grasped.

The US Government has not, as yet, made any statement concerning the future of Camp Ashraf, or Ashraf City, the base of the People's Mujahideen of Iran, which is in an area of Iraq controlled by US forces. However, the progressive handing over of responsibility for security from US to Iraqi forces, which is a welcome development, has led to obvious speculative reports that, in due course, this will also apply to the area containing Camp Ashraf.

Iraq's elected leaders and parties have always made clear their unhappiness at the continued presence in Iraq of the PMOI, due both to the importance of improving relations with Iran, and to the actions of the PMOI in support of the former regime of Saddam Hussein, including its involvement in attacks on Iraqi civilians.

The Iraqi authorities have recently restated their determination that the group should leave Iraq. They have not, however, suggested that they be forcibly returned to Iran. Rather, they have suggested that they should move to another country, or countries, and that such a move must be carried out in coordination with the International Committee for the Red Cross.

While the issues involved are complex, I would agree that the residents of Camp Ashraf should not be forcibly returned to Iran, where they would very probably face a real threat of persecution.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position as it pertains in Somalia in view of the fact that there has been widespread displacement and a threat of famine; if his Department has been asked to assist in non-governmental organisations gaining access to the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34190/08]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, and despite an initial period of stability after Ethiopian troops and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces defeated the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in December 2006, the situation has worsened catastrophically in the last year. There has been a pattern of fighting in the capital Mogadishu since November 2007, between Ethiopian and TFG forces on the one hand, and clan militias and Islamists on the other hand. An agreement between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) was initialled in Djibouti in June and signed on 19 August. However, despite this agreement, violence by opposition groups has increased since June, and has affected previously stable areas. Violence has intensified further in Mogadishu in September, and over 100 people have been killed there since 22 September.

Drought, widespread violence and displacement have caused the UN to estimate that 3.2 million Somalis are currently in need of assistance; a forty per cent increase since January. It is feared that this figure will rise even further by the end of 2008.

The humanitarian situation across Somalia remains grave, particularly in and around Mogadishu. Food shortages and drought have been compounded by escalating violence against civilians and aid-workers, which has made Somalia one of the most dangerous environments for aid workers in the world. This is the primary challenge for all NGOs and aid agencies in seeking to respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Somalia. Security issues include random violence, piracy, kidnapping, landmines and general banditry.

Since 2006, Ireland has contributed more than €17 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia. Thus far in 2008, Ireland has provided €5.65 million in humanitarian assistance. In addition to our financial support, we have made three successive deployments of members of the Rapid Response Corps (based in Nairobi) to assist UNHCR in their operations for Somalia.

The serious threat posed by piracy to the effective delivery of humanitarian aid is a cause for great concern, with so many in Somalia being dependent on food aid delivered through the World Food Programme (WFP). The EU is playing its part in the international efforts to combat the problem of piracy and EU Member States have decided to co-ordinate their maritime action in response to this issue and facilitate the escort of WFP ships into Mogadishu.

My officials are in continuing contact with a range of agencies and NGOs in order to monitor the situation, particularly on the issue of humanitarian access to those needing assistance.