We have a quorum so I will begin the meeting in public session. The first item is the draft minutes of the meetings of 17 April 2013 and 24 April 2013, which have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed. Unless there are other matters arising from the minutes, we will proceed with the main business of the meeting.
Business of Joint Committee
The presentation by Barry Andrews last week was very good. We received correspondence from the meeting and a briefing on Syria from Oxfam. As I said here last week, the issue of Syria is chilling. The international community has not done what needs to be done. We know the Tánaiste is pushing as hard as he can and we are providing humanitarian assistance, but can we adopt another motion to keep the issue alive to show these advocacy groups that we are continuing our interest in the matter?
Deputy Smith is very welcome to raise the matter in a motion next week if he wishes or to have it dealt with under any other business. I have no problem doing that. It is something we could discuss under any other business. I agree with the Deputy that we should keep the issue alive because it is serious and out of control. We should keep it alive to show solidarity with what is happening and our role. Perhaps we could talk to some of the other players involved. This is something Deputy Smith can think about. I have no problem taking it under any other business.
If the Chairman or the clerk to the committee has any suggestions-----
We will discuss the matter with Deputy Smith after the meeting.
We want to keep it on the agenda.
I agree.
I fully support Deputy Smith's argument. I do not know if anybody else received it but I received a communication from a group that quoted Archbishop Nassar of Damascus. He is a Maronite archbishop and is very much in the firing line. I met him last year at a conference. He is a very funny man but was very restrained in what he could say by what is happening in Syria. This particular article appeared to be a huge plea for help. Its thrust appeared to be that unless something is done, all Christians in Syria will either be killed or forced to leave the country.
Is he still in Damascus?
He is still in Damascus.
He is not doing any travelling outside Syria to highlight what is happening.
He had a difficulty. Are we on air?
Yes, we are in public session.
I did not know that. He was quite concerned about what he could say and the difficulties it could land him in. If we could do some exploratory research in that area, it would be a useful input into anything we might decide and pursue.
I will certainly take on board any suggestions from members. We will keep it at the top of the agenda between now and the summer.
Could the Chairman enlist the support of chairpersons of foreign affairs committees in other parliaments?
We would have to put a motion together if we were to pass it on to our colleagues in other member states.
Yes.
I have no problem putting that on the agenda in two weeks time. Next week's agenda is fairly packed but if we put it on the agenda for two weeks time, members can put a motion together in the meantime in order that we can pass it and forward it to our colleagues abroad. In the meantime, we will liaise with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in respect of any visitors, politicians or NGOs coming into the country to see if we can pursue the matter and highlight the issue. Is that satisfactory?
It is.