Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in congratulating the Tánaiste and his officials on a very successful Irish Presidency and for enhancing the reputation of the country internationally. It is inevitable that we would all want to say something on Syria given the worsening situation, the volumes of people pouring out of that country on a daily basis and the fact that neighbouring countries are under serious pressure to cope with the volumes of refugees they are attempting to assist. What other plans are being put in place to deal with the worsening crisis or to assist those neighbouring countries? Has consideration been given to trying to relocate some of these people to other parts of Europe? It was roughly this time last year when we spoke about the potential peace process in Syria. I remember that at the time I asked the Tánaiste whether there was a plan B and referred to the possibility of military intervention. The Tánaiste replied at the time that military intervention would lead to an escalation of militarisation and thereby make the situation worse and that our national position is that if we put more arms into the situation, we will increase militarisation and move away from trying to find a political solution and the number of casualties will increase. At that time, approximately 19,000 people had been killed. Today, that figure is close to 100,000. Does the Tánaiste have a different view today? Is he disappointed that it is likely that it will be late autumn before the Geneva peace initiative convenes? How optimistic is he that progress can be made there?

I very much welcome the stance the Tánaiste has taken on Egypt. Is there any indication that the interim regime is likely to reopen the media stations or release any of the political prisoners? What progress is likely to occur in the next number of months?