John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka; if his attention has been drawn to moves to broker a deal in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15854/09]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his view on the situation in Sri Lanka; the efforts he is making to ensure a permanent ceasefire and access for local and international humanitarian organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15393/09]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14686/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 50 and 52 together.

As stated on many occasions in this House, most recently on 24 March and 22 April, I remain deeply concerned about the on-going conflict in Sri Lanka and in particular about the grave humanitarian situation there.

Thanks to the efforts of the UN Secretary General and the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, the Government of Sri Lanka announced a two-day ceasefire on 12 April. While this was less than the full humanitarian pause of several days which the Secretary General had pressed for, it was nevertheless seen as an opportunity to try to relieve the horrendous suffering of the local population trapped in the conflict zone by providing them with some opportunity to evacuate and to access humanitarian assistance.

Some civilians succeeded in escaping from the conflict zone during the temporary ceasefire period agreed to by the Sri Lankan Government but not as many as expected. There were reports that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were preventing civilians leaving the area. Since then, however, over the last few days, there are reports that up to 40,000 civilians have succeeded in escaping through breaches in barricades, bringing to over 100,000 the number who have now fled the zone. Although there are no reliable figures at present for the numbers still trapped in the rapidly-shrinking zone still under the control of the LTTE, it is clear than tens of thousands of civilians are at grave risk as the war moves into what may well be its final, most intensive, phase. Earlier this week, the LTTE rejected a call on them from the Sri Lankan army to surrender within 24 hours to prevent further bloodshed, so the current indications are that they intend fighting this out until the bitter end. Army operations have since then intensified and gained significant ground.

Together with our partners in the EU, Ireland welcomed the temporary ceasefire but called for it to be extended in order to facilitate humanitarian operations in the affected parts of the country and to ensure the physical safety of all civilians. I very much regret that this did not happen. I remain gravely concerned about the plight of the many thousands of innocent men, women and children – many of them wounded or ill – still trapped in the war-zone.

I welcome the fact, however, that up to 100,000 of those who have fled the zone now have increasing access to humanitarian support and commend the excellent work being undertaken by organisations such as the ICRC, UNHCR, and Médecins Sans Frontières, whose activities Irish Aid have been supporting. I welcome the recent visit by the UN Secretary's General's Chef de Cabinet, Vijay Nambiar to Colombo last week, and hope that the UN will be able to engage more pro-actively with the Sri Lankan government while this appalling humanitarian tragedy continues and beyond.

In this context, I welcome the informal meeting of the Security Council held yesterday at which the Chef de Cabinet gave a briefing on his visit to Sri Lanka. Following the meeting, the Mexican President of the Council noted that Council members had expressed deep concern at the humanitarian situation, condemned the LTTE for the use of civilians as human shields, and called on them to surrender arms, end violence and enter political dialogue with the Government. He said that Members of the Council also called on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law and to allow humanitarian access.

I continue to take the firm view that there can be no military solution to Sri Lanka's political difficulties. A lasting peace settlement will require serious reconciliation efforts and a negotiated political process aimed at protecting the interests of all the citizens of Sri Lanka and enshrining the principle of parity of esteem among its divided communities. Ireland would welcome further activity by the international community, in particular by the UN Security Council, to assist in bringing about a swift resolution to the conflict, with minimum loss of life, and in supporting a negotiated peace process and reconciliation. 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.

I am strongly supportive of all efforts that have been made, and are continuing to be made, to persuade the Sri Lankan government and representatives of the Tamil people to engage in serious efforts to resolve their differences through negotiations rather than warfare and to seek a sustainable peace based on the principle of parity of esteem among the divided communities. Norway, the United States, the European Union and Japan - the members of the 'Tokyo Co-Chairs' group supporting the Sri Lankan peace process -, in addition to senior UN officials, have all been engaged in diplomatic activities in relation to the humanitarian situation, with some also focusing on the broader political context. Regrettably, following an attack on the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oslo on 12 April, the Sri Lankan government has indicated that it no longer sees it as feasible for Norway to act as facilitator in its engagement with Sri Lanka.

Since 2005 the Government has provided more than €5.3 million for humanitarian and development activities in Sri Lanka. Over US$12 million was allocated to Sri Lanka in 2008 from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund, to which Ireland is currently the seventh largest donor. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) - two of the key organisations at the centre of the response to the humanitarian crisis - also receive regular un-earmarked funding from Irish Aid. In view of the perilous situation in the affected areas, a decision has been taken to offer additional Irish Aid funding of €170,000 to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) which is treating large numbers of civilians affected by the conflict. The Government will continue to monitor closely the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka and the possible provision of additional emergency funding is being kept under review.