H.E. Mr. Jean-Pierre Thébault:

I thank the Chairman for his invitation today to discuss the recent terror attacks in Paris. It is a valued opportunity to engage and answers questions.

On Friday, 13 November in Paris and Saint-Denis, France was hit by a series of attacks orchestrated from Syria by the armed terrorist group Daesh. The scale and level of organisation of the attacks were exceptional and it is the worst such event in France since the Second World War. Beyond France, beyond the 17 nationalities represented among the 130 casualties and 350 wounded, one of them being an Irish citizen, the target was clearly Europe's security and fundamental values. The attacks targeted a multicultural capital, Paris, and struck at the heart of Europe. Daesh was targeting European security and European citizens in general. Daesh's claim of responsibility on 14 November mentioned two European countries in particular, France and Germany. Since then, it has clearly confirmed that all countries sharing the same values and orientations are its targets at any time. The mass attacks perpetrated by the same group in Beirut and Tunis exemplify that this terror organisation does not intend to stop but intends to wage a global and continuous war.

On behalf of the French people, I wholeheartedly acknowledge the mass solidarity and support of the Irish people. Together with the staff at the embassy and the French community in Ireland, we were overwhelmed by the huge friendship and shared sorrow expressed by the people of Ireland throughout all the country, in each county, each city, each school.

Attacks such as these only reinforce our conviction and determination. As President Hollande mentioned before the French Parliament last Monday, 16 November, our absolute priority is now to further strengthen the security of our nation and of the European territory, in close co-operation with our European partners and, at the same time, to contribute actively to international peace and security and the security, in particular, of all countries and territories affected or targeted by Daesh mass terrorism, by mobilising all means necessary to uproot the terror organisation at its very source. So doing, our action will be threefold. First, there will be a strong military response, in accordance with international law and principles, to an unprecedented act of war. As stated by President Hollande to the congress of both houses of the Parliament on 16 November, "the acts of war committed were decided, planned and prepared in Syria; they were organised in Belgium, committed on our soil with French complicities." An immediate strong military response was needed to prevent, as far as possible, Daesh from keeping the initiative. It was based on international law. Since its start our response has been entirely based on international law and the relevant provisions of the UN Charter. Article 51 of the UN Charter states, "Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations".

UN Security Council Resolution 2170, unanimously adopted on 15 August 2014, already provided a legal framework to carry out strikes against Daesh. Since 2014, Iraq has been the victim of an armed aggression on its territory from Daesh which uses the Syrian territory to carry out attacks. Iraq asked for the help of the international community. The UN resolution condemned in the strongest terms what it called the "gross, systematic and widespread abuse" of human rights by the Islamic State, Daesh. It reaffirmed the need to combat, by all means and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, this international terrorism and threat to international peace and security. More recently, UN Security Council Resolution 2249, adopted 20 November last, provided an additional legal framework. In his speech before both houses of the French Parliament, President Hollande called for such a resolution to be adopted. The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted this resolution. Its very strong formulation provides us with a new legal and political framework to mobilise and unify the entire international community in the recognition of that unprecedented threat and fight against Daesh. On this basis, France's armed forces carried out more than 300 air strikes targeting command and control posts of Daesh in Syria, effectively restraining the terror organisation in its moves and initiative possibilities.

A unique and co-ordinated alliance against Daesh, representing a united front of the international community against an international threat is, however, more crucial than ever. We believe there is a need for a coalition of all those who really want to fight against Daesh. This coalition should pursue the following objectives: avoid any ambiguity about who we are fighting - it is Daesh and the terrorist organisations listed by the UN and not, in any case, the moderate opposition; put an end to all forms of violence against civil populations anywhere in the world and, in particular, in Syria and Iraq where Daesh - a totalitarian organisation - is imposing terror and decimating the populations that have fallen under its control, with mass executions of opponents, prisoners of war, people of different faiths or orientations and women in widely broadcast, scenarised shows of madness; ensure that efforts are genuinely made to start the process needed for a political transition in Syria, according to the Geneva communiqué.

We want to build on Resolution 2249, which calls on all member states to take "all necessary measures" against Daesh and determines clearly the threat in the preambular paragraphs, "reaffirming that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed". From that perspective, President Hollande has initiated a round of meetings with our international partners to discuss stepping up co-operation in order to fight against Daesh. On 23 November last, the President met the UK Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron. On 24 November, he met President Obama in Washington. Yesterday, he met with Chancellor Merkel in Paris. Tonight, President Hollande will meet President Putin. These meetings are at an international level but we also need to address what is a direct threat to Europe which requires a strong, swift and closely co-ordinated answer. First, by its mere nature and scale, the claim made by Daesh that it intentionally targeted the way of life of our countries is clearly a direct challenge to us all.

Second, we need a swift defence and security answer. As an immediate reaction in France, a state of emergency was declared and there was an unprecedented mobilisation of our domestic security forces and armed forces, which increased the number of our troops to 10,000, all of which helped boost the security of the nation. However, these decisions put special pressure on all of our armed forces, intelligence capabilities, the police and the gendarmerie. France can no longer be alone in taking on such a significant proportion of the commitments that contribute to the security also of all Europeans.

At the Foreign Affairs-Defence Council meeting, which took place on 17 November, France has asked its partners, on the basis of Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, for two things. First, their bilateral support, according to their capabilities and international commitments in the fight against Daesh in Iraq or Syria. Second, increased support for EU or UN-led peacekeeping missions in places where the threat of global terrorism makes it even more important to stabilise these countries. Consensus about recourse to that article testifies to the solidarity among all Europeans. It is a strong and unprecedented political move commensurate with the challenges we are facing. We express our profound gratitude to all our partners.

France is studying all the possible options. We have initiated a dialogue with the EU Governments and in close co-operation with the UN, when relevant, on the kind of contribution they would be in a position to make within their constitutional framework. The confirmation yesterday by Chancellor Merkel of a strong German first military support in Mali is among the first substantial moves announced in this framework.

We also need to provide an answer at the level of internal security and justice. An extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council took place on 20 November. The conclusions adopted accelerate significantly the implementation of the roadmap adopted during the informal European Council meeting which took place after the terrorist attacks in January. Those conclusions, in particular, address the following: the question of an EU passenger name record, PNR, with a strong commitment; the fight against firearms traffic; the immediate implementation of systematic and co-ordinated controls at external borders; information exchanges; the financing of terrorism; and the harmonisation of criminal laws regarding terrorism.

We need to cut swiftly and effectively the funding sources of terrorism. Let us remember that France strongly supported the adoption of the EU Directive No. 4 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing. The directive has been adopted and we now need to swiftly implement same.

All of this is going in the right direction but we must act even faster and deeper. As stressed by French Minister for Finance in the Eurogroup, Michel Sapin, in a special address, we must ensure that every country, especially in the EU, sets up agencies with the appropriate resources to hunt down illegal financial flows. We must centralise the data collected across the EU and tighten the co-operation between the relevant agencies and intelligence services in order to improve the exchange of information. We must adapt our monitoring devices to new technologies. As an example, 90% of financial transactions are currently operated through the SWIFT system and yet we are unable to monitor them. For the credibility of our fight against terrorism this has to be changed.

We need to act collectively to stop the recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters and fighting effectively the hatred propaganda, especially through social media. Last but not least, we need a global diplomatic solution. Neither our efforts nor those of our partners will have their full effect if the regional crises are not dealt with at a political level. In Syria, the political transition is the only way of bringing all of the Syrians together in a single common objective to secure national unity, the co-existence between all components of the population and the fight against extremism. In Iraq, the process of national reconciliation is stuck. Therefore, it is a matter of urgent necessity that the Iraqi authorities adopt without further delay the measures announced by the Abadi Government in the fall of 2014. In Libya, the rise of Daesh is fostered by a prolongation of the political impasse and the division of the country. It is a matter of urgent necessity that the Libyan stakeholders sign the agreement that was concluded under the supervision of the UN and establish a government of national unity.

In conclusion, the forthcoming weeks and months will be crucial. We count on the full mobilisation and solidarity of the French nation and of all European Nations sharing the same values. Last Thursday, 19 November, the French national assembly almost unanimously adopted the extension of the state of emergency for three months. It is a strong sign that these measures were taken with full democratic control. Yesterday, the French Parliament also almost unanimously supported the extension of the French air strikes in Syria, as requested by our law and constitution. We will express this solidarity tomorrow, Friday, by a national day of remembrance in honour of the victims both in France and abroad. I will visit David Nolan, the Irish national who was severely wounded in the attack in Paris, to express to him and his family our total support and solidarity. I wish also to express to Ireland and its people our eternal thanks.