Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to assist in addressing the flight of the displaced persons in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41863/09]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will comment on reports that the Sri Lankan Defence Chief had agreed to provide testimony to the United States Department of Homeland Security regarding alleged human rights violations by a US citizen and Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41926/09]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the Tamils detained in Sri Lanka; if aid agencies, in particular the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Crescent, have had access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41925/09]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41924/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 75, 76 and 115 together.

As I have stated on many occasions in this House, I am deeply concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka. The immediate priority is still the welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) being held in camps in the north of the country, mainly in the Vavuniya area. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has reported that a total of 73,180 IDPs have been returned from the camps to their places of origin in the period between 5 August and 1 November 2009. I welcome this report. However, it remains unacceptable that nearly 190,000 people remain in the camps some six months after the end of the conflict. In this respect, I have noted the various assurances and commitments made by President Rajapakse concerning the return of the IDPs to their homes. It is essential that these commitments are respected.

The Government has made representations to the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the need to ensure the dignified, safe and speedy return of the IDPs to their home areas, as well as making clear the need for both a comprehensive reconstruction programme and a political settlement. On 27 October EU Foreign Ministers urged the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that conditions for those remaining in the camps are in all respects in accordance with internationally accepted standards. Ministers also emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian agencies to be given full and unimpeded access to IDPs so that humanitarian aid and protection can be provided to them.

The ICRC has been reviewing its operations and presence in Sri Lanka. It has closed four offices in Eastern Province and activities in this region have been suspended. Activities carried out from its offices in Vavuniya and Mannar have been put on hold pending further clarification and agreement with the government. The ICRC does not currently have access to those detainees deemed ex-combatants. However, it continues to help displaced and resident civilians and non-combatants detained in the Jaffna peninsula, in Colombo and elsewhere in the country. Responding to the serious humanitarian crisis in the affected areas, Irish Aid has provided funding of €308,000 for emergency response through NGO partners, including emergency medical and nutrition support, the provision of shelter, and distribution of food and non-food items. In addition, a member of Irish Aid's Rapid Response Corps is currently deployed in Sri Lanka to assist in the emergency response effort of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Deputies will appreciate that I have no access to information as to whether or not General Sarath Fonseka, who has since resigned as the Sri Lankan Defence Chief, had agreed to provide testimony to the United States Department of Homeland Security regarding alleged human rights violations while he was in the United States earlier this month. However, I understand from press reports that the General was not interviewed by the US authorities while he was in the United States. I believe that an independent review to consider the allegations of serious breaches of international humanitarian law by both sides in the course of the conflict in Sri Lanka should be established. On 18 May EU Foreign Ministers reiterated the need for all parties to respect fully their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and called for the alleged violations of these laws to be investigated through an independent inquiry.

This call was reiterated by the EU Presidency at a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Sri Lanka in Geneva on 26/27 May 2009. In its national statement at the Special Session, Ireland also called for an independent inquiry. My preference would be for this inquiry to be carried out under the authority of the Human Rights Council covering violations perpetrated by all parties. However, efforts by the EU to have a Resolution passed which would endorse a call for an inquiry into breaches of international law have regrettably been unsuccessful. Despite this, I remain committed to the principle of such an inquiry. I would see such an inquiry as one element in the overall response of the international community to Sri Lanka's post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction needs. Regrettably, I have nevertheless to concede that the chances of securing a UN-based inquiry now are very slim.

An inclusive reconciliation and peace process must also be initiated. It will be essential that arrangements and mechanisms are in place to ensure the representation of the Tamil population and facilitate dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation. Key to a successful process and sustainable peace will be political dialogue based on the principles of parity of esteem, consent, equality and the rule of law.