Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like you, Chairman I welcome Mr. Cooney and his colleagues from the Department. I appreciate that he forwarded his statement to us in advance of the meeting. He mentioned the success of the chairmanship of the OSCE. I compliment all involved in the success - the Tánaiste and the Secretary General and his colleagues in the Department. The decision was made in 2009 that Ireland would hold the chairmanship in the second half of 2012 and it shows the long lead-in process and preparatory work that must be undertaken to ensure a successful chairmanship.

With regard to the European external action force, some time ago I recall the European Parliament was critical of the ineffectiveness of the service. Mr. Cooney used the phrase in his script "continued to establish itself during 2012". Could he elaborate on that?

Is it gaining more recognition or appreciation? Does it deserve more appreciation from European parliamentarians with regard to its effectiveness?

As was noted in the opening statement provided, Syria is the humanitarian issue of our generation. At successive meetings of this joint committee, members have raised this issue and their former Dáil colleague, Mr. Barry Andrews, has appeared here in his capacity as chief executive of GOAL. Oxfam and other NGOs also have been in contact with the joint committee regarding the frightening humanitarian crisis, both in Syria and in the entire region. Some national coverage on Irish airwaves in recent days again has highlighted the particular difficulties and pressures in Lebanon and other adjoining countries. It is disappointing that the European Union has not been able to agree on the arms embargo issue and that this has changed in respect of France and Britain. Can the witnesses elaborate on whether there are ongoing efforts at European Union level, with the forthcoming Council of Ministers meeting, to again highlight this humanitarian issue? Members all have had the opportunity to meet a representative of the opposition groups, who outlined in graphic detail the huge abuse of individuals and are aware of the many millions who need humanitarian assistance and that more than 100,000 people have been killed. The position is frightening, as is the lack of international response. This joint committee has reiterated constantly its appreciation that the Government, through its overseas development programme, has continued to give more assistance to that particular region. I understand the European Union has been the main contributor. Is pressure being put on the other international players to play a much-needed and improved role in providing badly needed humanitarian assistance to that region? Some time ago, when the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, met his Russian counterpart, they indicated they would try to get talks under way in Geneva. Are there indications of momentum or impetus being given to this initiative? The failure of the United Nations to achieve a resolution obviously is extremely disappointing. However, all members must be deeply concerned with regard to what they read and see in the national media and through correspondence they receive from individuals. As the Secretary General noted in the opening remarks he forwarded to the joint committee, it is vital that the humanitarian disaster and catastrophe in that region is addressed in a much more thorough way by the international community.