Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance he and the EU propose to offer to the hundreds of thousands of civilians caught between warring groups in Sri Lanka. [5196/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being made to broker an end to violence in Sri Lanka; his views on the possible use of cluster bombs in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5286/09]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to support the efforts of the UN and the EU to address the difficult political and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. [4750/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his response and that of the EU to the position in Sri Lanka; and the assistance Ireland has offered in terms of mediation between the government there and the Tamil movement. [5194/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role of the EU, as one of the four co-chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka, in efforts to resolve conflict in the country; and the initiatives which have recently been adopted to that end. [5195/09]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he proposes to take on foot of the expressed concern of international human rights groups, including the International Commission of Jurists, and the special appeal made by priests in the province of Wanni, at the abuse of human rights and general breaches of international law taking place in Sri Lanka. [5198/09]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5335/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 40, 42, 46, 66, 67 and 77 together.

In a statement issued on 8 February, and in reply to Parliamentary Questions on 10 February, I made clear my deep concern at the plight of the war-ravaged Tamil population in the north of Sri Lanka, who are the innocent victims of the conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the rebel LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). Large numbers of men, women and children have been subjected to indiscriminate bombardment by government forces, while there is clear evidence that the LTTE has been blocking their escape and using them as human shields. 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. Claims have been made that cluster bombs have been used by one or other side but, to date, these have not been confirmed. Such blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians is indefensible and constitutes a serious breach of international humanitarian law, as has been made clear by the International Commission of Jurists and others.

I fully endorse the call made jointly by the 'Tokyo Co-Chairs' of the former Sri Lankan peace process [Norway, Japan, the EU and the USA] for both sides to declare at least a temporary cessation of hostilities to allow for the evacuation of the sick and wounded and the provision of aid to civilians.

I also support the call by the Co-Chairs for 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 also support the call by the Co-Chairs for 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.

As one of the four Tokyo co-chairs, 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.

At my proposal, the situation in Sri Lanka will be discussed at the next meeting of the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council on 23 February. In response to pressure from Ireland and some other partners, I am hopeful that an EU Troika visit to Sri Lanka at Ministerial level will take place shortly. The EU has also initiated a formal examination of whether the Government of Sri Lanka has breached the terms of the human rights provisions in the EU's GSP+ trade agreement with Sri Lanka.

In 2008, the European Commission allocated €19 million for humanitarian and food aid programmes to assist people affected by conflict and natural disasters in Sri Lanka.

At the national level, Ireland has consistently taken every opportunity call for meaningful peace talks and an end to all violence and human rights violations. We continue to take the firm view that there can be no lasting military solution to Sri Lanka's political difficulties. 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.

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 un-earmarked funding to the ICRC, one of the key organisations at the centre of the response to the current humanitarian crisis in the north of Sri Lanka.