Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late, which was a result of my having to chair another meeting. The witnesses are very welcome. Other speakers have voiced the concerns I share regarding the slow progress in the welcoming of refugees under resettlement and relocation programmes. The Commissioner outlined the very slow progress at European level. We all are concerned about how slow it has been in Ireland. Colleagues referred to Calais and the number of unaccompanied minors there. I will focus on the question of accountability and what the EU is proposing to do to ensure accountability for the gross violations of humanitarian law we have seen perpetrated in Syria, in particular by the Russian and Syrian Governments in their abandonment of the peace process, the deployment of air strikes on humanitarian aid convoys and the ongoing blockade of civilians, including many children in Aleppo. What does the EU propose to do in terms of further sanctions against Russia, calling in representatives of the Russian Government and so on?

My colleague referred to Gaza. Again, many of us are concerned that the EU is not doing enough to ensure Israel, in particular, is made accountable for violations of international human rights law in its treatment of civilians in Gaza and the ongoing blockade of the region.