Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 142: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the difficulties facing the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [38368/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives he has taken or supported at EU or UN level to address current or potential humanitarian issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda; if steps have been taken to protect civilians and prevent ethnic cleansing and genocide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38513/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 277: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU proposes to take action or intervene by way of peace supportive measures in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38709/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 278: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the EU or UN proposes to take initiatives to protect civilians in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38710/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 151, 277 and 278 together.

The resurgence of fighting in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a matter of grave concern, both in terms of its implications for the humanitarian situation, and for the stability of the wider Great Lakes region. It has seriously undermined the Goma and Nairobi Peace Agreements, and placed the progress made over the past year in the Great Lakes peace process in grave jeopardy. The situation, notwithstanding a fragile ceasefire, remains volatile. I am particularly concerned by reports of widespread attacks on civilians by all sides in the conflict, and by the plight of the estimated 1.5 million people now displaced in DRC, more than a million of whom are in North Kivu. News of clashes yesterday is also disturbing.

MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force, which at 17,000-strong is the UN's largest peacekeeping operation, is mandated to use all means necessary to protect the civilian population. Since 2001, three Irish Defence Forces officers have been deployed with the mission as Military Liaison Officers. MONUC is now seriously over-stretched, and UN officials have called for extra troops and air assets. The UN Security Council is fully seized of the situation and has been discussing appropriate responses as a matter of urgency.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has been heavily engaged in discussions in an effort to stabilize the situation. Secretary General Ban's appointment of the former Nigerian President, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, an experienced mediator in regional disputes, as his Special Envoy to broker a political settlement, is a particularly welcome development. The African Union (AU), led by its current chairman, President Kikwete of Tanzania, has also been to the forefront of efforts to restore calm. It is not as yet clear if there will be agreement to hold talks involving the DRC and Rwandan governments, as urged by the Secretary General.

The EU is the largest humanitarian donor to the DRC, and has played a key role in supporting peace efforts to date. Ireland fully supports the excellent work of the EU's Special Representative to the Great Lakes, Roeland van de Geer. Last week, the EU Commissioner for Development, Louis Michel, visited Kinshasa and Kigali to urge the Presidents of both countries to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis.

I also commend the efforts of my British and French counterparts, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, who have been engaged in vigorous diplomatic efforts over the past week, and met with Presidents Kabila and Kagame during a visit to the Great Lakes last weekend, and briefed colleagues in Marseilles on Monday. At present it does not appear that there is likely to be an ESDP mission, with the focus instead being on support for the UN.

Ireland is a significant humanitarian donor to the DRC. Already in 2008, Ireland has committed over €11 million in humanitarian aid funding, and our support to the country since 2006 totals over €31 million. In response to this worsening crisis, the Government has set aside up to €1 million in extra funding for humanitarian relief in North Kivu. In addition, Irish Aid has allocated more than €8 million in funding to Rwanda since 2006. The EU has announced an additional €4 million in humanitarian aid for North Kivu.

The crisis in DRC will be high on the agenda when I meet with my EU colleagues at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 10 November.