Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Mahony and Ms Kennedy for their presentation. The scene they have outlined is very frightening and has worsened considerably since they last attended a meeting of the committee almost one year ago. Until June this year, refugees from Syria who were fleeing from ISIS were being accommodated in Iraq, but that country is now in serious difficulty. The delegates referred to the increasing tensions between Syrian refugees and host communities in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. It is important to acknowledge the pressures on the host countries and recognise what they have done and continue to do to assist persons fleeing Syria.

The activities of ISIS which are receiving a great deal of media coverage are a source of serious concern to the international community. My understanding is that the organisation now controls large parts of both Syria and Iraq, with its offensive being ramped up in recent days. The town of Kobani, in particular, has been very much in the media spotlight. Am I correct in saying that if ISIS succeeds in capturing Kobani, it will have established a direct link between its position in the Syrian province of Aleppo and its stronghold at Raqqa? It is very worrying to contemplate it having full control of a long stretch of the Turkish-Syrian border.

The problems in the region are multiplying and, as the delegates observed, the international community has not responded with the urgency needed. The pledging conference took place almost one year ago amid huge international attention, with a series of prominent political leaders pledging very substantial donations and giving other commitments. Will the delegates indicate to what degree these commitments have been honoured and what they amount to in monetary terms?

The delegates have noted that 3 million refugees have left Syria and that 7 million people are internally displaced. If, as I understand it, the population of Syria was just less than 23 million one year ago, almost 50% of its people have either had to flee their homeland or are displaced internally. These statistics paint a very grave picture, to which, unfortunately, the international community has not responded.

I am sure colleagues will be in agreement with me that the committee would not have any difficulty in supporting the proposals the delegates have brought forward and presenting them to the Minister. Are they confident these proposals will be supported by other non-governmental organisations which are doing similar and very valuable work in these countries?