Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the situation in Syria with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “Shocking and disturbing footage of torture is emerging from Syria, along with reports of medical staff aiding the torture of opponents of the Assad regime. This comes on the back of reports from Médicins sans Frontières that medicine was being used as a weapon of persecution by the Syrian regime. There has also been further incontrovertible evidence of this in recent days with the deplorable action of the Syrian authorities in obstructing Red Cross and Red Crescent workers from bringing assistance to the sick and injured.

Ahead of an informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers this Friday, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore, will appear before our Committee where we will discuss the crisis in Syria. The Committee is keen to hear what the EU is doing regarding the dire situation in Syria and to ascertain what effect international pressure can have on the situation in Syria. The Committee calls on Ireland and its international partners to act decisively to protect the lives of the civilian population in Syria.”

This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 7th March. Before the meeting with the Tánaiste, the Committee will meet with Michael Gaffey, Assistant Secretary, Development Cooperation Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to consider Irish Aid Policy and criteria for funding the NGO sector.

Deputy Breen said: “Members of the Joint Committee are very supportive of the work of Irish development NGOs and many members of the Committee have seen the great work which they do on the ground in developing countries. The Committee is also aware of the good communication and close cooperation between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the NGO sector. Nonetheless, all systems must be reviewed, in particular in light of leaner budgets, and it is incumbent on the NGOs to reflect the effectiveness demanded of all funded sectors to provide consistent and transparent value-for-money. Irish Aid has a responsibility to ensure that every cent of Government funding channelled through the NGO sector is being used to good effect and can show positive outcomes.  The focus now is on the NGO sector.  Are they equipped for the tasks in hand?  Do they have the governance and accounting structures commensurate with their funding?  What issues has the new funding allocation system brought to light?  Are there weaknesses in the Sector?  These are among the questions which members will raise at tomorrow’s meeting.” 

The meeting with Mr Gaffey will start in Committee Room 1 at 2.30pm on Wednesday.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:

http://bit.ly/24YmPI

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD

Senators

Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.