Mr. Barry Andrews:

I would like to reply to Deputy Smith's question about access to aid on the rebel side. The Tánaiste made a strong statement at the UN General Assembly. The proportion of Irish aid money that goes to NGOs should be properly calibrated to reflect need, whether it is through NGOs or UN. It does not matter as long it reflects need. That might require recalibration. The committee will have an opportunity to discuss the UN Security Council's response to the chemical weapons issue when the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Costello, appears but the response reflects an interpretation of the best interests of the main powers holding the veto and permanent membership rather than an assessment of the merits of any issue that comes before the council.

With regard to humanitarian access, if the UN is standing at the Turkish border, for example, with thousands of trucks full of humanitarian aid to go into the rebel side, naturally its officials will not do that unless they are welcomed by the Assad government. The norms of international humanitarian law are that they cannot be reasonably denied access but there has never been a proper interpretation of the concept of reasonable denial of access. Unfortunately, therefore, it is a grey area and it is difficult for any of us to have a strong opinion about it at this point. That is the current position. There is nothing to stop the General Assembly from passing a resolution and each UN member is entitled to sponsor a resolution of the assembly. That may be something the Government could consider in the context of humanitarian access.