Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms O'Hara and commend her on her long track record of working with refugees in some of the most dangerous conflict zones for the United Nations over the years. I have followed her career with great interest. I thank her for coming here to give us such a comprehensive overview of the immense scale of the humanitarian crisis, particularly in Syria and Iraq and of the enormous challenge in meeting the humanitarian response that Ms O'Hara has described. The figure of 4.8 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries - more than the population of this country - gives us some sense of the scale.

I know all of us are keen to see a more expeditious and speedy resettlement programme in operation here, in keeping with the pledge we have made to take 4,000 refugees from Syria.

I wish to ask a question on Ms O'Hara's concluding comments. The response to the humanitarian crisis and the refugee displacement is a response to the political crisis. Therefore, the only solution to the plight of the Syrian people is a negotiated political settlement. Can Ms O'Hara comment on the likely prospects of such a settlement? Does the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have a role in feeding in to the terms of any settlement? Does the organisation play any direct role in that regard?