Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

A number of issues have been raised. Deputy Mitchell asked about water diplomacy and security. On Monday, I expect that the EU's High Representative will provide an update on recent policy developments on water security. The discussion on this issue is part of an increased focus by the High Representative and EU foreign ministers on integrating non-traditional security challenges into the common security and defence policy, particularly concerning conflict prevention, mediation and crisis management. This was the subject of a lengthy discussion at the informal meeting of foreign affairs Ministers that was held in Cyprus during their EU Presidency last September.

Essentially, one examines the areas that have the potential to give rise to conflict. We were mindful at that stage that there was an issue in central Asia, for example, concerning two countries where the flow of water was diverted, dammed or halted, and which gave rise to tension.

The EU has at its disposal a unique range of policies and tools - including development, trade, security and diplomacy - which can enable it to play a significant role in this regard. That is the objective of regular Foreign Affairs Council discussions on this issue. As global demand for natural resources, including water, continues to increase, so does their potential role concerning inter and intra-state conflict. That is why Ireland supports the effective management of water resources in countries like Ethiopia, for example, where we actively contribute to the development of water infrastructure through the productive safety nets programme.

Deputy O'Sullivan asked about Syria. There are no superlatives left to describe the horror of the situation there. Almost 100,000 people have been killed, that we know of, and in addition we must also consider the extent of displacement. What can be done? One step would be for the international community to respond as one, but it has not been able to do so due to the veto being exercised by two countries at the UN Security Council. Deputy O'Sullivan said that we are witnessing this slaughter and she asked how many more people must be killed before some intervention action is taken. That was the rationale and argument we had at the Foreign Affairs Council in respect of renewing the arms embargo.

Some member states have argued that in a set of circumstances where the Assad regime has available to it a huge amount of weaponry, the answer is to equip the opposition forces. There are a number of difficulties with that. The first is that it would increase the militarisation of the situation on the ground. One would not have control over where those weapons would end up. There is a very fractured nature to the opposition, although I know that the Syrian National Coalition is together. However, by increasing the amount of arms one is increasing the potential for a huge civil war, which could go on for a very long time. It would have major implications for destabilisation in the region.

It is well known that we would wish to have seen the arms embargo continued.

I very much regret it was not possible to get unanimity on it. The only show in town in getting some progress on Syria is the Geneva II conference. That has the advantage that it involves the United States and Russia.

The issue of Hezbollah has been extensively discussed at official level in Brussels in recent months. To date, no agreement has been possible, despite extensive efforts in the relevant working groups that Ireland chaired during its EU Presidency. Several countries, including Ireland, have expressed concerns about the potentially destabilising impact of designation. There are also concerns about other impacts. Discussions are continuing in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting next Monday with a view to reaching a compromise on this difficult issue. We are engaging constructively in those efforts to reach an agreed EU position.

I have noted the point made by Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan on Myanmar-Burma. During the visit of Aung San Suu Kyi, we agreed to renew our diplomatic relations with Myanmar-Burma. The Irish ambassador to Vietnam is also designated ambassador to Myanmar-Burma. We had a scoping mission by departmental officials several weeks ago and we are considering its report.