Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with the questions and issues raised in a thematic way and hopefully I will reply to all of the contributors.

I will start with the Chairman's comments on the situation in Aleppo, with which I agree fully, in terms of his sentiment and concern. The current situation in Aleppo is somewhat beyond description. We know that the Assad regime has, since the beginning of the conflict, used military force against the civilian population, which is totally unacceptable. It has shelled food markets, bakeries, schools and hospitals and has used chemical weapons repeatedly and indiscriminately. The use of starvation and a denial of humanitarian relief as weapons against the Syrian people is outrageous and has killed thousands. What we are seeing is a clear escalation of the deliberate policy on the part of the Assad regime of fighting a war against its own civilians. I have discussed this matter as recently as Monday with my foreign affairs colleagues in Luxembourg and there was a clear consensus that the situation is appalling and that the action of the regime and its allies, including Russia, may well amount to war crimes. We stated that and I have said it publicly. After a four hour debate on Monday, we agreed a very strong statement.

The Russian offer of an eight hour window of respite from bombing in Aleppo is small relief to a civilian population under siege and bombardment. I do not think that the Russian offer of an eight hour ceasefire is sufficient at all. It will not even allow for the evacuation of those who wish to leave the besieged city. I have made the position of the Irish Government and people clear in repeated statements.

On the matter of the Russian ambassador, I would say to Deputy Darragh O'Brien that it is normal practice for a foreign Minister to have his or her views conveyed to an ambassador through his or her most senior officials. In this case, on two occasions, that was done, exclusively and specifically with regard to the situation in Syria. I have made my views known on the record of this House and have made them known at the Foreign Affairs Council. Indeed, I played an active role in crafting the strong statement following the meeting of the council in Luxembourg. I know that Deputy O'Brien feels very strongly about the situation in Syria, as we all do, but I am really surprised that he is focusing his attention on what is a semantic issue.