Dr. Nader Hashemi:

There are some organisations that are so radical, extreme and intolerant that it is not possible to engage in negotiations and diplomacy with them. Unfortunately, there are some organisations that have to be dealt with militarily and defeated. Part of the strategy to defeat them is to provide alternative options for young people who are looking towards ISIS and think ISIS can represent a positive future for them. It is not possible to invite representatives of ISIS to the table and agree some sort of solution that can help solve this particular problem. Alternative options have to be part of the strategy.

ISIS is a small band of militants which draws on a larger section of support that is rooted, in the case of Iraq and Syria, in what was mentioned by one of the members earlier, in the broad feeling that Sunni populations are politically marginalised and excluded - that they have no representation and no hope in the existing states in which they live and they look to ISIS as an alternative option. We should seek to strengthen the legitimacy of the existing states in Iraq and Syria and start to drain away some of the support base that exists in some of these Sunni communities. It is members of this support base who have looked to ISIS for inspiration and as an option for a better future. It is not possible to negotiate with them. I wish there was a non-military solution.

In one sense, the Arab League can be helpful in this particular challenge, particularly on the short-term basis in terms of helping with the military dimension of the problem. Air forces and military components have been part of the American-led effort against ISIS. However, long term we have to remember that the Arab League is a joke. They are all political tyrannies, non-democratic and headed by ruling elites. I do not see a significant or constructive role for many of the Arab League states, particularly the prominent ones - Egypt and Saudi Arabia for example - in dealing with a political legitimisation crisis and a crisis of democracy and representation. All of the Arab League countries, with the exception of Tunisia, are non-representative and have their own internal legitimisation crisis. One has to be very honest on this. Many of these so-called Arab moderate governments with which we have close relationships are really very immoderate in terms of how they treat their own populations and how they deal with questions on democracy and human rights. I am very wary of any suggestion of working with non-democratic political systems to solve a problem that is fundamentally rooted in a crisis of democracy and human rights. That is a non-starter.

I take the Deputy's point. Why should the West have to go in and solve other people's problems? No one is asking the West to go in and solve the problems of Syria and Iraq. It is a question of supporting the moderate, democratic and inclusive-oriented elements of those societies. They are begging the West for support and assistance. In the case of Ireland, we are really talking about moral support. It would be a huge boon to have the Government speak out and defend basic universal principles, get behind the freedom charter, support the International Criminal Court and get behind, support and invite to this country those elements of in particular Iraqi and Syrian society, who have a blueprint for an inclusive, democratic future.

It would be a huge boon if, for example, the Irish Parliament were to pass a non-binding resolution in support of the Syrian freedom charter for a future Syria that is inclusive, democratic and protects minority rights in particular, including Christian and Alawite minority rights. The resolution could reflect the blueprint for a future Syria and Ireland's values as a liberal western democracy and view that anyone agreeing to the blueprint would have the support of Ireland and the international community. Such a simple statement would go a long way to boosting the morale, self-esteem and hope of people fighting in very difficult circumstances in Syria against a fascist regime in Damascus and an Islamic-fascist movement in the form of ISIS.