Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
206. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action that will be taken by the EU following the recent chemical attack in Douma, Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16746/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was shocked and sickened by the images from the chemical attack which took place in Douma on 7 March, and I condemned it unreservedly in a public statement. In response to that horrific attack on civilians, a number of states took action against facilities related to the production of chemical weapons, with the stated objective of ensuring that such attacks do not recur.
Yesterday, I discussed the situation in Syria with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council. We condemned in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and stressed the need to ensure full legal accountability for those responsible for such crimes. We also reiterated our support for the UN-led political negotiations to end the conflict, and the urgent need to reinvigorate the political track.
Ireland is strongly supportive of all efforts to strengthen the global norm prohibiting use of chemical weapons and supports all efforts to increase accountability for their use.
Ireland and the EU provide political and financial support to a broad range of measures which aim to ensure full legal accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria. This includes the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism established by the UN General Assembly to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in Syria, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria established by the Human Rights Council, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Fact Finding Mission and Joint Investigative Mission with the UN. In addition, Ireland has consistently supported EU sanctions targeting the regime and its supporters, and will continue to do so as long as the situation on the ground justifies these measures. Ireland reaffirms the need to avoid any escalation of the situation in Syria, and our key concern is the protection of civilians.
The situation in Syria is appalling, and the suffering of the Syrian people cannot be ignored. The EU will host a donor conference for Syria later this month, as it did last year. The EU and its Member States are the largest single donor to the effort to support the Syrian people. Since 2012, Ireland has contributed over €95 million to the humanitarian effort in response to the conflict in Syria, including €25 million in 2017 alone. Ireland will make a further pledge at the Brussels conference later this month.
