Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in political and humanitarian terms as pertains in Zimbabwe; and the prospects of power sharing structures emerging. [38380/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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More than six weeks after the signing of a power-sharing agreement between Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, and the Tsvangirai and Mutambara factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), there has still been no agreement on forming a Government, and the situation in Zimbabwe remains deeply worrying. Although political violence has diminished, it has not stopped. The rate of inflation has now reached unimaginable levels. As the Zimbabwe dollar has lost credibility and value Zimbabweans increasingly have to use foreign currencies, principally the US dollar and the South African rand, for transactions such as grocery purchases, property sales and rentals, legal fees and fuel sales. The World Food Programme estimates that 5.1 million people will require food assistance by January 2009.

The EU is continuing to act on its concern for the suffering of the ordinary people of Zimbabwe at this very difficult time. The European Commission has allocated an additional €10 million in relief assistance for people affected by the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, while Irish aid to the affected people for the period 2006 to 2008 (to date) amounts to approximately €25m.

The failure of the two sides to reach a deal on 27 October on the allocation of Ministries is extremely disappointing. The issue has been referred to a full summit meeting of the South African Development Community (SADC). This summit has been set for 9 November in South Africa. It is Zimbabwe's neighbours, and above all South Africa and other members of SADC which have the greatest potential influence and leverage, and therefore the greatest responsibility to act. I have instructed our Ambassadors in SADC countries to convey our concerns to the authorities in these countries.

EU Foreign Ministers stated after our meeting of 13 October that the EU stands ready to support a transitional government which is taking steps to restore democracy and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. That commitment stands, and the EU very much hopes that the forthcoming SADC summit will result in the formation of a government of national unity which is credible and reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people, as expressed at the 29 March elections. Given the disappointing rate of progress in the talks on forming a Transition Government, my colleagues and I will not be in a position to consider lifting the EU's restrictive measures on the Zimbabwean leadership when we next meet on 10 November. Ireland supports a co-ordinated international approach to addressing Zimbabwe's problems, once an administration is in place in Harare which is committed to working with the international community to rebuild the country economically and politically.