Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their attendance. This is not the first time the committee has heard a presentation about the situation in Syria which seems to be getting more grim each time. There is very little hope being expressed by the many people we have met. A population which is more than the population of Ireland has been displaced, with half of the population seeking refuge outside the country. The plight of the children affects me most. Some of them will not know any other life except growing up in a conflict situation. People are dying from preventable illnesses.

Ireland's provision of aid funding is just a small drop in the ocean. Is it being used where it is most needed? Have the delegates any suggestions as to where it could be better deployed?

I have a question about Lebanon for Mr. Ros O'Sullivan. Is he suggesting that big camps are the best option? I acknowledge the pressure being exerted on Lebanon. What is the most humane solution for those refugees moving into Lebanon?

I have a question for GOAL. Is GOAL working in parts of Syria where people are trying to lead a so-called normal life? Can there be a humanitarian solution without a political one? Do they go hand in hand? Is the possibility of an interim measure such as a humanitarian corridor or a ceasefire being raised with any of the players in Syria to facilitate the movement of aid into the country? I hope pressure can be applied to those countries which have pledged money and have not come up with it.

The delegates and their work are amazing. I feel totally helpless and inadequate. This is not the first time that chemical weapons have been used but it could provide a way forward towards a study of the broader picture. The people are being destroyed by more means than chemical weapons alone.