Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Hara and Mr. O'Neill for their attendance. The committee takes this issue seriously. The first hearing of the committee post the general election was used to discuss the refugee crisis and the wider crisis in the Middle East.

Some of us were in Cairo some weeks ago. We had the pleasure of meeting the Secretary General of the Arab League. Ahmed Aboul Gheit made some comments to us that day. It was telling that the continuing imposition of western style democratic values on the Middle East is not welcome there. We simply cannot transpose what happens in western Europe and try to tell people in Libya, Iraq and Syria that this is the way they should lead their lives. When we are considering solutions to this, we should consider the disastrous interventions carried out by Britain, France, USA and other western powers in Libya, Syria and Iraq. This is one of the reasons for the current crisis. There are no blameless actors in the whole tragedy. That is the problem. This view was put to us loud and clear. Europe and the West do not always have the solutions. Our values are not the only correct values and should not be followed necessarily. If we - by which I mean the West - were a little more cautious in our approach over the past 20 years, we might not be dealing with a crisis of the current proportions. Having said that, I commend the UNHCR representatives, their colleagues and all the other agencies on their work in what is a difficult and catastrophic situation.

Ireland has a modest commitment under the resettlement programme. However, the European commitment is modest as well. What is the view of the UNHCR on Europe and the EU response to resettlement in particular? Does the UNHCR have a view on third-country arrangements, such as the Turkish arrangement? What is the view on the move for a further 15 arrangements to be put in place? We are talking about an outrageous situation whereby 80,000 refugees are proposed to be resettled to Afghanistan. I imagine the UN has a view on this – I hope it does and I am keen to hear it.

Do the UNHCR representatives have a view or comment on the persecution of minorities? The case of anyone who is persecuted as well as any death is abhorrent. However, the systematic persecution and the genocide perpetrated on Christians, Yazidis and others in the Middle East are unacceptable too. When we discuss the horrors the Syrian regime has inflicted on the people there, we also must consider what the so-called Islamic State, al-Nusra Front and other groups that are supposed to be moderate are carrying out against ethnic minorities in the region.

I agree completely with the witnesses that political solutions are required. I welcome the comments to the effect that all those involved have to be part of an overall solution. I thank the deputation for the presentation this morning.