Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will develop the peace process in Colombia and encourage inclusive negotiations following recent positive events. [4347/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The events of the past week, which saw the release of six hostages, including the last politicians to be held by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), are very welcome.

The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end to 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 demobilised by the completion of the process in 2007. Negotiations between the major left-wing guerrilla group, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), and the Government have not yet commenced.

The EU has expressed its 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 EU has 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 EU has stated that all initiatives taken with the Colombian Government's support with the objective of promoting a successful peace process are welcome.

The Government will continue 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. We are fully supportive of efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia, and will continue to support the Government of Colombia in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict, including through direct engagement. We very much welcome the mediation of third parties in the pursuit of a solution to the conflict, where such efforts have the support of the Colombian Government.

In conjunction with our EU partners, the Irish government will continue to examine how we may, as appropriate, contribute to the peace process in Colombia.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will work for an end to the slaughter of civilians in Sri Lanka. [4348/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he is taking to put pressure within the international community to end the killing of Tamil people in Sri Lanka; the efforts being made to bring an end to the violence, to bring about a peaceful settlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4898/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 385 together.

I am deeply concerned by the escalation in fighting which has taken place in recent months in the northern part of Sri Lanka and by the terrible effects this is having on the local population, including thousands of internally displaced persons. I am particularly shocked by reports of the repeated shelling last week of the PTK hospital, which has resulted in the deaths of 12 people. While I would wish to see an end to all fighting, I appeal in particular to both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) not to fire out of, or into the no-fire zone established by the Government or in the vicinity of this or any other hospital.

The parties must also allow food and medical assistance to reach those trapped by the fighting. There must be full cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross so as to facilitate the evacuation of urgent medical cases and to ensure the safety of aid and medical workers. Both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka must respect international humanitarian law. Both must recognise that further loss of life — of civilians and combatants — serves no cause.

Bilaterally, and with our EU partners, Ireland has consistently sought to impress on both sides the importance of engaging in meaningful peace talks and stopping all violence and human rights violations. We deeply regret the termination of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE last year. We continue to take the firm view that there can be no lasting military solution to Sri Lanka's political difficulties.

As one of the four co-chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka, the EU has been anxious to maintain an active role in assisting the country to resolve its internal conflicts, work on national reconciliation and move forward on the development agenda. I fully support the terms of a statement made by the Tokyo Co-Chairs in Colombo on 3 February which calls on the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to declare a temporary cease-fire to allow for the evacuation of the sick and wounded and for the provision of aid to civilians. I support also the call by the Co-Chairs on the LTTE to discuss with the Government of Sri Lanka the modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, the renunciation of violence, the acceptance of the Government of Sri Lanka's offer of amnesty; and for its participation as a political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution.

I will continue to make clear the Government's very deep concerns about the situation in Sri Lanka. We will seek compliance by all parties with international humanitarian law and urge the resumption without delay of an inclusive political process. Such a process should address the legitimate concerns and interests of both the main communities on the island. Should the relevant parties seek our advice in relation to a negotiated peace process, we would give consideration as to how we could best help.

Ireland will continue to support the efforts of the Co-Chairs, working in concert with the UN and the EU, to address the political and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. We hope that an EU Troika visit to Sri Lanka at Ministerial level will take place shortly. Since 2005, the Government has provided, through Irish Aid, more than €5.3 million for humanitarian and development activities in Sri Lanka, including significant emergency assistance provided in the aftermath of the tsunami in 2004. In addition, over US$12 million was allocated from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund to Sri Lanka during 2008. Ireland is currently the seventh largest donor to this Fund.

Irish Aid recently provided €7 million in unearmarked funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), one of the key organisations at the centre of the response to the current humanitarian crisis in the north of Sri Lanka.