Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is there a reason the UNHCR was not invited to the peace talks? Is it a policy decision that the UNHCR does not involve itself or is it the fact that it was not invited? As an organisation that has been deeply involved in the situation it must know a great deal more detail than most of us on this side of the world. It is extraordinary that it would not be involved in any attempts to bring about a political solution.

Pouring money into this problem will not solve it. I had the experience in the 1990s, when I was Minister for Defence, of regularly visiting Lebanon and Syria. As the witnesses will be aware, at that time Lebanon was under attack more than Syria. It is extraordinary that this reversal has now happened. Where does the UNHCR fit into the equation? Pardon my ignorance if I should know this. However, it strikes me that there is a huge weakness in how to bring about a solution after six years of war. Pouring money into the situation will not solve the problem. It is time that key people such as the witnesses and others, who understand the difficulties, are brought into an attempt to bring about a peaceful solution. It is very difficult for people here to understand the difference between our culture and the culture in that part of the world. As I found out, one must be there to understand it. We are getting ourselves into a situation where we are blaming one country, such as Iran or others. The reality is that if people have religious beliefs and come under attack and if people of their religious beliefs are being attacked in another country, it is automatic that they would have sympathy and move towards trying to solve it. That would happen equally in this country, if we saw Christians or Catholics being attacked. Of course we would help.

At this stage the talking is over. It is time to get the key people around a table and not just keep pouring money into the situation. We are talking about vast sums of money that could be used far better in rebuilding the infrastructure and getting people back into their homes. Can the witnesses give some guidance on what is the best thing we can do to promote a situation that would assist the UNHCR and others to get around the table and try to find a solution to this problem? Blaming one country or another is irrelevant at this stage, as far as I am concerned. There are reasons that others are involved, but at this stage there is not much point in arguing about it. They are involved. Perhaps the witnesses would educate me on where their role starts and finishes, or am I asking too much of the UNHCR in saying that it should be around the table when the negotiations are taking place?