Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures he will take to assist in reaching a settlement in Sri Lanka; his views on the situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34084/08]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the conflict in Sri Lanka, especially with regard to the independence sought by the Tamil people for those areas of the country where there is a Tamil majority; if Ireland has been able or proposes to be of assistance in efforts to find a just settlement in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34178/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 69 together.

As I have reported to the House on a number of previous occasions, the Government is seriously concerned about the political, security and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. I am particularly troubled at the extent of civilian casualties, the increasing numbers of internally displaced families and the disruption to the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the needy which have resulted from both the government's military offensive and from acts of terrorism on the part of the LTTE and others.

This is particularly the case since the decision taken in January by the Government of Sri Lanka to pull out of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, to terminate formally the peace process and to seek to resolve the Tamil issue through military force. But, equally, we remain deeply concerned about the widespread wanton acts of terrorism and violence carried out by the LTTE ('Tamil Tigers') and other groups, including this week's suicide bombing in Anuradhapura. Such actions have resulted in the EU and others in the international community listing the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and, therefore, ceasing contact with them.

In the Government's contacts with the Government of Sri Lanka and in all our international contacts regarding Sri Lanka, we have consistently expressed the view that there can be no military solution to the Tamil issue. It is the Government's clear view that the legitimate aspirations of Tamil people for their ethnic, cultural and religious rights to be safeguarded, and for some form of autonomy, should be the subject of peaceful, national dialogue and negotiation, with a view to reaching a comprehensive political agreement that will address the aspirations of both Tamils and the majority Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka.

This was the objective of the currently defunct ceasefire and peace process, which was facilitated by Norway, backed up by the Nordic Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, and supported with development assistance by the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka. I believe that it is vital that every effort is made to try to reinvigorate this peace process.

We remain strongly supportive of the role Norway has played and we very much welcome its commitment to continue contacts with both sides in hopes of encouraging them back to the negotiating table.

In the meantime, we will continue to provide practical, humanitarian support to the people of all communities in Sri Lanka. Since 2005, 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, and continuing support to the World Food Programme in Sri Lanka.