Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
623. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council and with the United Nations the urgent need to comprehensively address the ongoing major loss of life and utter devastation caused by the use of barrel bombs in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30083/15]
View answerI have repeatedly condemned all violence against civilians in Syria by the Assad regime, militia forces and terrorist groups, including the abhorrent use of barrel bombs which are an indiscriminate weapon aimed primarily at terrorising the Syrian population.
Ireland has consistently supported greater engagement by the Security Council on tackling the crisis in Syria. All EU Member States, including Ireland, co-sponsored a resolution calling for referral of the Syrian conflict to the International Criminal Court. I reiterate Ireland’s support for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Any decision on measures to prevent the use of barrel-bombs, such as the possible establishment of a no-fly zone in Syria, is a matter which falls to the UN Security Council.
Regrettably, the Security Council has in recent years repeatedly failed to agree on effective measures to tackle the political and security situation in Syria, with repeated vetoes on proposed action by permanent members of the Council. There is little prospect that any proposal for such a resolution will be approved by the Council at this time.
