Written answers

Thursday, 20 May 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

5:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress that has been made at the level of the European Union in relation to Somalia. [20942/10]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position in relation to the prospects of peace in Somalia. [20948/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 50 together.

The situation in Somalia is of extreme concern, as the country has been without an effective government since 1991. The UN-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) faces enormous challenges, not least the fact that it controls little of the country's territory and that significant armed groups remained opposed to the President. In the north-west of the country, an independent republic of Somaliland has been proclaimed, while in the north-east Puntland has declared itself an autonomous state within Somalia. Both these areas, whose statehood is not recognised by the international community, enjoy relative stability compared to the south of the country, where the TGF is under attack from rebel groups, the most aggressive of which is Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahideen.

The continuous instability and conflict, and deepening drought, have caused a huge humanitarian crisis. It is currently estimated that 3.2 million Somalis are in need of livelihood and humanitarian support. The long-standing absence of authority in the country has also led to Somali pirates becoming a major threat to international shipping in the area.

In December 2008 the EU deployed the first ever ESDP naval mission, Operation Atalanta, with a mandate from the UN Security Council to contribute to the prevention, deterrence and repression of acts of piracy. It has been effective in delivering upon its mandate, protecting World Food Programme shipments of food aid to Somalia and reducing the incidence of pirate attacks against shipping in the region.

However, it is commonly recognised that it is necessary to complement the work of Operation Atalanta by addressing the root causes of piracy which originate in the lawlessness plaguing the country. To this end, the EU has launched a military mission to train the Somali Security Forces and thereby assist the TFG in its efforts to begin to re-establish governance and the rule of law in the country. The EU Training Mission (EUTM), which started training members of the Somali security forces at the start of May, is taking place in Uganda and is scheduled to last for approximately one year. Ireland has seconded five members of the Permanent Defence Forces for service with the EU military training mission.

The EU military training mission forms one part of a comprehensive approach conducted by the EU in the Horn of Africa to address the Somali crisis. The EU is also exploring possible action to support the Somali police and support maritime capacity development in Somalia and the region. Furthermore, the EU strongly supports the UN-facilitated Djibouti peace and reconciliation process and offers extensive humanitarian and development assistance to the Somali population.

Since 2008, Ireland has provided over €13.5 million in assistance to Somalia. This includes more than €11.5 million in humanitarian assistance, which has focused on providing food to people affected by drought conditions, as well as those forced from their homes by violence, and has been provided through a variety of UN and NGO partners. In addition, Ireland has allocated over €2 million in funding to Concern and World Vision Ireland for their programmes in Somalia, which focus on ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, supporting children worst affected by the conflict, health, and education.

Ultimately, the insecurity and piracy problems, the poverty and the humanitarian crisis which affect Somalis are consequences of the fact that Somalia continues to fail as a state. The only long-term solution is the restoration of effective government, the gradual building up of adequate justice and policing systems, and the restoration of a functioning economy. Such conditions cannot be enforced from outside, the Somali people themselves must find a solution. Ireland, with our partners in the EU, will continue to support efforts within Somalia to restore peace and stability to the country.

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