Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2015
494. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the air strikes in Syria; if he has voiced his position at European Union level; and if he will outline Ireland's position on the future of President Assad of Syria in any peace talks on the future of Syria. [45189/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra503. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on air strikes in Syria; if he has voiced his position at European Union level; and if he will outline Ireland's position on the future of President Assad of Syria in any peace talks on the future of Syria. [45461/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 503 together.
Ireland fully supports the removal of the threat to international peace and security posed by the Daesh group, consistent with international law. The recent attacks in Paris, Tunisia, Lebanon and elsewhere, including those in which Irish citizens have been murdered and wounded, show that Daesh’s terrorist crimes are an international and indiscriminate phenomenon which does not respect borders or nationality.
The threat posed by international terrorism requires a coordinated response from the international community. An effective response also requires a comprehensive approach which addresses root causes and contributory factors, promotes a counter-narrative, prevents radicalisation, deters and disrupts terrorist travel, addresses terrorist financing and brings perpetrators to justice.
Ireland, in common with all other UN Member States has a duty to implement relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and we have taken steps to do so. These Resolutions include UNSCR 2161 on freezing the funds and other assets of terrorist groupings and UNSCR 2178 on measures to suppress the recruiting, organising, transporting or equipping of individuals who travel to another State in order to perpetrate, plan or participate in terrorist acts or training.
It is for individual States to determine in what way they might best contribute to the concerted international effort underway to tackle the threat posed by DA’ESH and other UN-designated terrorist groups. Security Council resolution 2249 calls upon UN Member States to “take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Daesh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Daesh, as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the Statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria."
Ireland is not and will not be participating in any international military action to combat Daesh.
Defeating Daesh, cannot be separated from resolving the Syrian conflict. Ireland supports the efforts of the UN to renew political negotiations based on the 2012 Geneva communiqué a and the statements of the International Syria Support Group of 30 October and 14 November and urges all parties to take steps to immediately end the all violence, establish a transitional governing body with executive powers and control over Syrian security forces and the implementation of a constitutional reform process which preserves Syria’s pluralistic character. We urge all parties to take steps to end the conflict, support the UN and to commit themselves to a nationwide ceasefire and a negotiated peace agreement.
Ireland, together with its EU partners, made clear in the EU statement of 4 June 2014 that we do not accept the legitimacy of the 3 June Presidential elections held in Syria. These were held under a flawed electoral law which imposed identification requirements that deprived most Syrians living in areas under opposition control of the ability to cast their vote. The law also prevented exiled opposition candidates from standing against President Assad, and blocked access to alternative sources of campaign information. Ireland has co-sponsored a resolution called on the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court and has repeatedly supported the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry, which has made clear that the Assad regime is responsible for the overwhelming majority of attacks against civilians in Syria.
