Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his update. It is timely given the very great concern that has been expressed and which we all share about the mounting casualties in Aleppo and Syria. I echo the words of the Chairman and colleagues on that. On the initiative of Labour Party Senators and I, there is an all-party motion before the Seanad today condemning the attacks in Syria, calling on the Government to continue to use all available diplomatic means to raise the issue and to work towards an end to the aerial bombardment and a genuine cessation of violence. It echoes the words of the EU Foreign Affairs Council earlier this week. While the Minister says it represents a consensus view of the international community, unfortunately, as we know, the consensus is not shared by Russia which is deeply complicit in the war crimes being committed in Syria, particularly in Aleppo. The Russian foreign Minister's article in the British press at the weekend expressed the very clear view of the Russia Government that it will continue the bombardment. It will continue unless we scale up diplomatic action against it.

The Minister is right that there is no military solution but we need to work harder. Ireland needs to do more and express in stronger and clearer terms our condemnation of not only the Syrian Government, but its backers, notably Russia. Last night, the French and German heads of Government, François Hollande and Angela Merkel, ramped up their language, with François Hollande calling what is happening in Aleppo a war crime and calling for maximum pressure to be placed on Russia. Will Ireland support what seems to be a French and German push for enhanced sanctions against Russia? It is up for discussion at the meeting of the European Council this afternoon. Will Ireland share that view? As Deputy O'Brien asked, will we vote against Russia's election to the United Nations Human Rights Council? Will we support the continuation of sanctions beyond 31 January 2017? Deputy O'Brien also called on the Minister to call the Russian ambassador in directly to put those questions to him and express Irish support for the French and German position. It is very important that we do so.

The Minister referred to the back-to-school truce in Ukraine, which is currently holding. Can the Minister say what the consequence will be for Russia if it does not hold? How long will the truce be tested to see if it is holding? What position will Ireland take to ensure Russia is held to account for the appalling treatment of civilians in Ukraine?

On the issue of refugees, which others have raised, the resettlement programme from Lebanon has so far led to 486 persons being admitted. That is welcome but we are still nowhere near the 4,000 that was promised. The Minister pointed out that 69 people have been relocated through the relocation programme from Greece. There have been serious problems with operating the planned relocation from Italy. Irish personnel have not been allowed to work in Italy to ensure the facilitation of admission of people from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries through Italy as was originally anticipated. The Minister says he hopes to see an increase soon. We have been hearing that for some months now. Can the Minister give a precise timeframe? Can he say whether progress has been made in ensuring that the relocation programme will operate from Italy as well as from Greece?