Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with others in thanking the Tánaiste for his comprehensive report to us. I commend the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, visited the UN to sign the ATT. I think he was one of only 12 ministers who attended, which was acknowledged and recognised. I note that the Tánaiste intends ratifying it in the second half of the year. I would encourage him to do so as soon as possible. Given the standing of Ireland on human rights issues over many decades, other countries look to us so we give an example and lead when we do that.

I had a meeting in the past few days with the UN ambassadors from Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Argentina. The issue of the International Criminal Court was discussed, in particular the Kampala declaration. What is our position on the Kampala declaration? We are anxious that as many countries as possible support the declaration, sign it and see that it comes into full effect.

With regard to Syria, the Chairman and another member mentioned that the indication we got when we were in the Middle East was that this war will go on for many years. We saw the sad effects of it on individuals and families, many of whom are destitute as a consequence. They are living in the best conditions that can be provided, but appalling conditions when one looks at Zaatari refugee camp. Last July there was nobody there and the camp was just being established. The Minister of State, Deputy Costello, said when he was there in January there were only 15,000; now there are 120,000. The effects that will have on Jordan, one of the few stable countries in that region, and particularly on Lebanon, which the Minister mentioned, are mind-boggling.

At a recent meeting I attended, Turkish parliamentarians expressed their concerns that the war in Syria might engulf the region. They are particularly concerned about Turkey and how it might affect them. They made the following suggestion, which I will put to the Tánaiste without evaluating it myself. They felt the effort and initiative with Russia and the US is very important to try to bring closure to that conflict and not allow it to go on for ten years. They said it would enhance the prospects of success if Iran, Turkey and Israel participated with Russia and the US. The inclusion of some of the countries to which they referred surprised me and I queried them but their honest opinion was that these countries would assist and that having them involved would promote the prospect of a resolution. The Tánaiste, with his officials, can evaluate whether they would concur with that. I am giving this to the Tánaiste for what it is worth, as I received it.

I appeal that we in Ireland would do our utmost, with the international community and our EU partners, to try to ensure that war does not continue, as people in the region feel it will, almost indefinitely. It will have consequences for the other countries in the region.