Written answers

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

9:00 am

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the abduction and detention of an Irish aid worker in Sudan. [31728/09]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his trip to Sudan relating to the kidnapping of persons (details supplied); if he is satisfied that they are safe and well; and the steps being taken to secure their release. [31682/09]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 25 together.

Ms Sharon Commins, a Goal development worker, and her Ugandan colleague, Ms Hilda Kawuki, were abducted by a group of armed men in Darfur on Friday 3 July. I can assure this House that, in the weeks since, the Irish Government has been making every possible effort to secure their release.

A strong multi-disciplinary Irish team, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, went to Sudan within 24 hours of the kidnapping. Some members of team stayed in Khartoum while others went on for a period to the North Darfur regional centre of Al Fashir. A team is still present in Khartoum. Throughout the eleven weeks of the kidnap, the Irish Government has worked closely with the Sudanese Government. The Sudanese Government has, in turn, been working through the local chiefs and other intermediaries to persuade the kidnappers to release the women.

The Department has also closely liaised with the Commins family here in Dublin and I would like to take this opportunity to express my admiration for their endurance and strength during what I know has being a most difficult time for them. We have remained in touch with Ms Kawuki's family in Kampala.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, visited Sudan on 6 and 7 September to discuss the situation with the Sudanese authorities.

During the Minister's visit, he was briefed by the Irish emergency team in Khartoum and he also met with the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Gailani, who is co-ordinating the Sudanese efforts, the UN Deputy Special Representative, Ms Amira Haq, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Deng, and the Presidential adviser on Darfur, Dr Ghazi. The discussions were extremely useful and he impressed on them the importance of bringing about a peaceful and successful resolution of this appalling kidnapping. The kidnapping targeted development workers whose sole objective was to assist the ordinary people of Darfur, who have suffered so much in the conflict there.

In turn, the Minister was briefed on the ongoing efforts by the Sudanese authorities to release the hostages. He was assured that both Sharon and Hilda are safe, are not being harmed in any way, and that every effort is being made at the moment to obtain their release.

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