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Syrian Conflict

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Ceisteanna (100, 105, 108)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

100. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the outcome of discussions on Syria at the most recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17448/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

105. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a petition by persons (details supplied); if these matters will be raised at a conference at the end of April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17602/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

108. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his British or French counterpart recently regarding the recent targeted attacks on Syria. [17680/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 105 and 108 together.

The Syria conflict, which is now in its eighth year, has cost up to 500,000 lives. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including close to 3 million people trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. Over 6 million people are displaced internally, and a further 5.5 million have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. There have been repeated breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law. There have been numerous instances of denial and diversion of humanitarian aid, the use of medieval ‘starve or surrender’ siege tactics and the use of chemical weapons. I am aware of the petition on the Syria conflict to which Deputy Murphy refers and I fully concur with the sentiment of concern expressed by the petitioners about this appalling situation.

The apparent chemical attack in Douma on 7 April was a particularly shocking and sickening development. Like many, I was horrified by the images of entire families who had died in the basements where they had sought shelter, and I publicly and unreservedly condemned the attack. In response to that horrific attack on civilians, and following Russia’s veto of meaningful UN Security Council action to ensure accountability for such attacks, a number of states took action against facilities related to the production of chemical weapons. I note that their stated objective was to ensure that such attacks do not recur.

Last week I discussed the situation in Syria, including these most recent developments, 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. I reaffirmed the need to avoid any escalation of the situation in Syria, and the importance of ensuring accountability for the use of chemical weapons.

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 UN 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.

Obviously a comprehensive, sustainable, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led resolution to the conflict will be required to provide lasting relief to the suffering of the Syrian people. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is leading political negotiations to end the conflict based on the 2012 Geneva Communique and UN Security Council resolution 2254. Ireland and the EU fully support this process. The EU provides direct assistance to the UN-led Geneva peace talks and has launched, in coordination with the UN, an initiative to develop political dialogue with key actors from the region to identify common ground.

Since 2012, Ireland has contributed over €95 million to the humanitarian response to the Syria crisis, including €25 million in 2017 alone. The EU and its Member States have to date mobilised more than €10.6 billion for humanitarian, stabilisation and resilience assistance inside Syria and in neighbouring countries, making the EU the largest single donor to the effort. The EU is hosting a further donors’ conference for Syria this week, and Ireland will use that opportunity to announce our pledge to the humanitarian effort in response to the Syria crisis in 2018.

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