Syria and civilian casualties
Deputy Martin raised the programme commitment on diplomatic engagement, focusing on the barbaric attack in Syria and asking what Ireland would do. The Taoiseach condemned the violence and said Syria remained on the Foreign Affairs Council agenda.
Page 143 of the programme for Government sets out a commitment to "continue to play an active role at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, the OSCE and through the UN, in seeking diplomatic resolutions to crises and conflict, with particular reference to Syria, Iraq, Libya, and the Ukraine". Everybody will have been absolutely appalled and horrified by yesterday's barbaric attack on innocent civilians, including many children, in Syria. Up to 100 people were killed and over 250 people were injured. I ask the Taoiseach to outline what the Government intends to do to fulfil the programme for Government commitment with respect to the UN and the OSCE. Certain key countries that have been supportive of Syria must be held to account. There must be a degree of accountability regarding chemical attacks of this kind. As we all recall, the then US President said in 2012 that this was a red-line issue. Nothing happened as a result of that. People think they can act with impunity. It is important for the international community to stand firm on this issue. It needs to begin to engage in mechanisms to deal with it.
Comment on this
I can confirm that the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, attended last Monday's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. He has attended all the Foreign Affairs Council meetings. Syria has always been on the agenda. From an Irish point of view, the Minister has been very forthright in his comments at these meetings. The entire UN, which was created for a world that no longer exists, needs to be able to reflect on what is happening. The situation in Syria is appalling. According to news reports, the war has gone on longer than the lives of many of the young children who are now the victims of chemical attacks. This is absolutely appalling. It has to be condemned unreservedly by right-thinking people. The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, on which we are represented by the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, is very forthright in its views. My view is that the UN needs reform to be far more effective in dealing with appalling actions like this.