Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community plans to make further positive intervention in the Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31962/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The situation in Sudan, in particular the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Darfur, progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the humanitarian consequences of the expulsion of thirteen international humanitarian agencies from the country, continue to be the focus of international concern. Recent months have seen considerable engagement on these issues by the United Nations, by Sudan's regional neighbours through the African Union, by the US Government and by the European Union.

The persistence of the conflict in Darfur despite a number of ceasefires and peace agreements, coupled with the ongoing suffering of the people of the region, is a matter of grave concern. International efforts to bring an end to the conflict are being led by the joint AU-UN chief mediator, Djibril Bassolé, whose work Ireland fully supports. The "Agreement of Good Will and Confidence Building" was signed in Doha in February by the Sudanese Government and the JEM rebel group. The AU has established a High Level Panel on Darfur, under the chairmanship of former South African President Thabo Mbeki, which has undertaken four missions to the region and is due to report by the end of this month. EU Special Representative Torben Brylle has also been active in efforts to bring peace to the region, including current efforts to expand participation in the next round of talks, which will be convened in Doha on 28 September. Ireland supports progress made on the CPA through renewed international efforts and urges the parties involved in the Doha talks on Darfur to continue their efforts to reach a resolution.

The Government remains extremely concerned at the kidnapping in Darfur of Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki and is making every possible effort to ensure their safe release. To this end, I visited Sudan on 6 and 7 of September to discuss with the Sudanese authorities the efforts that are being made to ensure their safe return to their families and to impress upon the Sudanese authorities the serious concern with which the Irish government views the situation.

Ireland, in common with the international community, fully supports the complete implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which brought an end to the north-south conflict in Sudan. There have been some positive developments in implementation in recent months, including the renewed engagement of the US and the ruling on the Abyei region in the Hague. The two unresolved issues that remain are the census and the referendum; however, there is cautious optimism that these issues can be resolved. Ireland welcomes the recent progress on the CPA and urges the parties involved to fulfil their outstanding commitments.

Ireland has played an important part in the international response to the humanitarian situation in Sudan, providing over €50 million in funding for work in Sudan, including Darfur, since 2006. Along with our EU partners, we fully support the fundamental role played by the ICC in the promotion of international justice. Continued progress towards the full implementation of the CPA is imperative to avoid the risk of a destabilisation in Sudan and its impact on the wider region.