Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Especially when we are talking about the fundamentals of democracy.

Such events in Europe - the killing of hundreds of EU citizens and many others - obviously calls for a very strong response from within the European Union.

Senators have rightly mentioned the events in Gaza in the context of the ongoing blockade, the need to end the occupation of Palestinian territory, and that settlements are an obstacle to progress and achieving peace. These are important issues and are of some urgency. However, they are broader subjects for another day's debate.

I agree that it has been a central element of Ireland's approach to try and prevent immediate crises, like Gaza, from obscuring the focus on the longer term. In all our engagements with parties in the region - and in all of my engagements in the past two weeks - at EU or UN level, we stressed the need to focus on the long-term problem, otherwise the immediate crisis will continue to repeat itself. As evidenced by Members in the course of their contributions, nowhere is this more obvious than in Gaza.

I shall now reply to the points made by Senator Michael Mullins and others on humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Ireland has consistently matched its material humanitarian contribution with support for international efforts to find a sustainable political solution to the crisis and advocated for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. We have called for all parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law and to refrain from the targeting of civilians. Ireland continues to monitor the situation closely, in particular through its Mission in Ramallah, and is actively engaged with the United Nations, the European Union and many of the NGO partners. The latter do sterling work in very difficult circumstances and shown great courage and bravery while seeking to respond, as positively as they can, to the current humanitarian crisis. In this regard, I recognise and refer to the presence, for the entire debate, of the ambassador and Head of Mission to Ireland, H.E. Mr. Ahmad Abdel Razek from Palestine. I was very pleased to have the opportunity of a constructive engagement with him late last week. I will continue to engage positively with the office and assist in so far as I can.

Reference was made to my previously expressed views on Israel, in particular by Senators Terry Leyden and Averil Power. Those previously expressed views that Israel has a right to exist and defend itself in no way impair my judgment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make an objective and honest assessment of the current situation in Gaza. In summary, let me make it clear that assessment is that the Israeli military actions are disproportionate in scale, indiscriminate in nature and must stop, as indeed must the Hamas rocket attacks into Israel. I am sure Senator Averil Power will acquaint herself with the attitude of Hamas towards the treatment of women and the imposition of Sharia law in certain parts of the region, about which we might not be so vocal.

Senator Ivana Bacik asked the very important question as to why the European Union was not more centrally involved in efforts to resolve the crisis and she put forward a proposal that I will be glad to take on board. The European Union is fully engaged in efforts to end the violence and to secure a ceasefire. The crisis was extensively discussed at last week's Foreign Affairs Council which I attended and where important conclusions not only on Gaza but on the underlying need to revive the Middle East peace process were adopted. I was pleased to participate on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius of France convened a meeting in Paris last Saturday which was attended by Secretary of State John Kerry and about which I received a full report. A number of EU and regional Foreign Ministers were present to reinforce the intense diplomatic efforts in order to achieve a ceasefire. The unfortunate reality from that meeting is that there is no end of appeals from across the international community to stop the violence but regrettably neither side is really listening or responding as it should.

In response to what Senator Ivana Bacik said, I would be very happy to contact, at the earliest opportunity, High Commissioner Catherine Ashton, with whom I spoke last week, and my counterpart, the Italian Foreign Minister, with whom I had a most constructive meeting in the course of the European Council. I will undertake to make contact with her at the earliest opportunity in order to see what further action EU Foreign Ministers might take, having regard to the fact that she currently holds the Presidency of the European Union. I will report back to the Leader of the House and Senator Ivana Bacik, if the House agrees. The Leader can inform the House of any initiative that might arise following this.

Senators Jim Walsh and Paul Coghlan made reference to the situation in Syria. The situation in Syria and the huge violations of human rights, especially by the Assad regime and its supporters, has been rightly described by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as "unspeakable". I do not think there is any need for me to add to that. The scale of the atrocities in Syria and the humanitarian impact are the most severe in the world at this time and pose a grave risk to regional stability in the Near East. I reiterate and let me make clear this Government's long-standing position that no military solution exists to the Syrian crisis and that a political framework, based on the Geneva communiqué principles, is the only viable means to bring this conflict to an end. I implore all sides to this conflict to seek the earliest possible end to the conflict in Syria for the sake of the Syrian people and peace in the Near East region. I hope we will have an opportunity to perhaps debate that issue in the autumn when we resume a full daily schedule of work.

Iraq was mentioned and again Senators will be aware that the advance of the ISIS movement in northern Iraq in recent months has raised a serious threat to minority communities in that area, including Shias.

This poses a particular threat to Iraq's Christian community, which was referred to by Senator Jim Walsh. Many of the people in this community, which was much reduced by previous violence, live in and around the greater urban area of Mosul. We are greatly concerned for the safety of these ancient Christian communities. Along with my predecessor, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, I have discussed this issue at recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. In the last few days, Ireland has discussed with EU partners the possibility of bringing forward a resolution on this important issue at the Human Rights Council.

Before I speak about Ukraine, I would like to say I was very disappointed by the contributions of the Sinn Féin representatives. They might have availed of the two speaking slots available to them to dissociate themselves from one of their public representatives, who was quoted by Senator Cummins as saying he would "prefer if the UN started shelling Israel to bring him [Netanyahu] to heel". Any call for the United Nations to engage in or perpetrate armed activity against another state is, frankly, outrageous. The suggestion made by the Sinn Féin representative that "the English were never coming to the table until Canary Wharf happened" is a dark harbinger of things to come if Sinn Féin comes to a position of power in this country. When members of Sinn Féin emote about the graphic details of women and children casualties in Gaza, as they are entitled to do, victims of terror such as Jean McConville come to mind.

I thank Members for their comments on the crisis in Ukraine. I will conclude by making some brief remarks in reply. Ireland has strongly condemned Russian actions from the outset of this crisis. The annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol following the illegal referendum of 16 March last was a flagrant violation of international law, including some of its most fundamental norms. The unchecked flow of militants and weaponry across the Russian border into eastern Ukraine since has fuelled a bloody conflict, which has cost more than 1,000 lives and created massive instability on the European Union's eastern frontier.

As a small nation, Ireland is strongly attached to a rules-based approach to the conduct of international relations. It is important in the context of all our international deliberations that we look for and are strongly attached to a rules-based approach. Russian actions are in clear breach of the Helsinki process, which has contributed in the past 40 years to overcoming divisions in Europe and building a peaceful and united continent. Given that Ireland served as the chair in office of the OSCE as recently as 2012, I cannot see how we could fail to take a strong view on such matters.

It is sometimes suggested the European Union shares a degree of culpability with the Russian Federation for the crisis. I believe this suggestion is as wrong as it is disingenuous. No military threats have been made by the European Union. The Union has not placed Ukraine at the centre of a zero-sum game where its people have to choose east over west. The Ukrainian people should be free to choose their own political destiny without external interference. There is an urgent need for Moscow to take steps to de-escalate the situation, for example by engaging in serious talks with the Government in Kiev without further delay.

The peace plan advanced by President Poroshenko on 22 June makes specific provision for the protection of the rights of Russian-language speakers and for national dialogue on constitutional reform leading to regional devolution. Ireland and its EU partners believe the President's peace plan remains a valid template for exiting the crisis, ending the bloodshed and arriving at a negotiated political settlement. We continue to be actively engaged in several multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

I know members of this forum are also members of the Council of Europe. I am sure we can have a report from the Seanad members of the Council of Europe, at a date to be decided by the Cathaoirleach and the House, when we can see the efforts being made to promote dialogue between all sides involved in the conflict.

Again, from a humanitarian point of view, Ireland has contributed €100,000 to the OSCE activities in Ukraine. In addition, five members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine are Irish and Ireland sent 16 short-term observers to Ukraine as part of the OSCE-ODIHR Mission to oversee the presidential elections of 25 May 2014. I take the opportunity to commend them for having volunteered for this important task in very trying and difficult circumstances. Moreover, Ireland is considering sending an individual to participate in the EU Advisory Mission for civilian security sector reform in Ukraine which will advise on a revised strategy for the civilian security sector.

As stated, ultimately, there can be no military solution to the conflict. At the Foreign Affairs Council earlier this month we urged Russia to stop the increasing flow of weapons, equipment and militants across the border in order to achieve rapid and tangible results in de-escalation. We also urged Russia to withdraw its additional troops from the border, that would still allow it have a complement of troops. We take a very strong view against the assembly of further additional troops along the border which, unfortunately, is a feature of current unacceptable activities in the region.

I reiterate these calls in this House that there needs to be an end to the mixed messages. It is high time for deeds, not words. There is an urgent need to agree on a genuine and sustainable cease fire by all parties on the basis of the commitments set out in the Berlin Declaration of 2 July. We all need to give our full support to the efforts of the OSCE as an essential facilitator in this dangerous conflict.

The European Union has particular responsibility to help promote peace and stability in Europe. I make no apologies for engaging, debating and cajoling and, ultimately, agreeing with our EU colleagues because I believe the European Union should continue to remain at the forefront of efforts to facilitate and engage in a meaningful dialogue involving Ukraine and Russia, among others, because one voice, as compared to 28 voices, is obviously in a much weaker position.