I thank the Leader for putting on the Order Paper the motion on the conflict in Syria. We will be taking it without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business and I thank all colleagues who signed up to it. Every political party grouping has signed up to it. I know that Senator Victor Boyhan's name is to be added to it also. Any other Independent colleague who wishes to have his or her name added should do so. It is important that the Seanad speaks with one voice on this hugely important humanitarian crisis. We all share such immense concern and horror at the unfolding events in Syria. The fact is that the eight-hour cessation announced by the Syrian Government with its Russian backers is of very little comfort to the besieged population in Aleppo. We are all conscious that there are other besieged civilian populations across Syria, not just in Aleppo. We have seen the horrific bombardment of medical facilities, aid convoys and civilian populations, with hundreds of people being killed in Aleppo this week alone. I raised the issue at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, as did other colleagues. We joined in calls that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, express in the strongest possible terms his condemnation of the Syrian Government's treatment of its people and of those who backed it, particularly the Russian Government. I will be communicating directly with the Russian ambassador to let him know that the Seanad has passed the motion. I ask that the Leader and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to do the same. I also told the Minister that the motion would be passed in the Seanad today. Last night we heard particularly strong language from the French and German leaders, Mr. François Hollande and Ms Angela Merkel, against Russia in speaking about war crimes having been committed in Aleppo. At the European Council meeting this afternoon it is likely that further sanctions against Russia will be on the agenda, given the very strong language used and the ratcheting up of pressure on Russia that we have seen from France and Germany, in particular, which I hope we will see the Government support. I put this to the Minister at the committee meeting this morning. A number of us also asked that Ireland take a position in voting against the inclusion of Russia in the UN Human Rights Committee. We are awaiting a response on that matter.

Will the Leader arrange a debate in the House on migration and Ireland's response to the Syrian crisis in the context of our reception of Syrian refugees which has been very slow to date? It is a matter that we also raised at the committee meeting this morning. The Minister acknowledged that while the resettlement targets were being met in the resettlement of Syrian refugees coming through Lebanon, we had seen real delays in welcoming refugees from Greece and Italy, in particular. There have been, as he accepted, bureaucratic delays. As a result, the relocation programme has effectively been stalled. We are nowhere near the admittance of the 4,000 refugees we committed to welcoming here. I ask the Leader for a debate in the House in early course on the issue with, more appropriately, the Minister for Justice and Equality.