Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 187: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current situation in Mali; if any action is being taken at EU or UN level to urgently resolve the situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19831/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The situation in Mali is of serious concern to Ireland and our European Union partners. Developments in Mali were discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council which I attended in Luxembourg yesterday. The Council agreed strong Conclusions which repeated the EU's condemnation of the seizure of power by force in Mali in March and called for an immediate end to violence, the protection of civilians and the restoration of civil, constitutional government. The EU stands firmly behind the efforts of the countries of the region to ensure the restoration of constitutional order in Mali. In this context, we welcome the signing of a Framework Agreement on 6 April for the restoration of constitutional order and urge all involved in Mali to ensure its timely implementation.

The EU is ready to provide support to the civilian-led transition process in Mali, which must include an electoral process involving all the people of Mali. The EU is monitoring closely progress in the transition process. In the meantime, ongoing direct support to the people of the country will continue, as well as humanitarian aid.

The UN has also been actively supporting efforts to promote an end to violence and the restoration of constitutional Government in Mali and the position of the UN Security Council was set out in a strong statement issued by the President of the Council on 9 April.

For our part, through Irish Aid, the Government is exploring with our partners who are active on the ground in the region ways of meeting the current humanitarian needs in Mali. Earlier this year, the Government announced an allocation of €5 million in support of efforts to address the food crisis in Mali and the wider Sahel region. Since 2007, Ireland has also provided some €3 million in support of longer-term development programmes and projects managed by civil society organisations working in Mali.