Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Tánaiste's detailed statement on the issues discussed at recent meetings and to be discussed at the forthcoming Council meeting. The eastern partnership is very important in the interests of stability and prosperity in the countries to the east of the EU. At one stage, the Kremlin regarded the eastern partnership as just another EU initiative. It seems to have amended its view to one of outright opposition. Can the Tánaiste tell us whether there has been any dialogue with the Russian authorities since last week at Commissioner level or at the level of the President of the Council? I welcome the fact that the Russian Foreign Minister will join the Ministers for lunch at the Council meeting.

We appreciate the submission of the detailed briefing note that was prepared by the Department. According to the briefing note, an EU-Russia summit is "currently scheduled" for the end of January. That suggests to me that there may be a doubt about whether the summit meeting will go ahead. It is very important that it does from the perspective of developing relations between the EU and Russia.

I would like to comment on the figures quoted by the Tánaiste with regard to Syria. It is frightening to think that 2.5 million people have not been reached with assistance over the past year, that 6 million people have been displaced and that terrible loss of life and acts of inhumanity have occurred. We hope some progress will be made at the Geneva II conference at the end of January. I have seen correspondence from a person who is advocating on behalf of the opposition in Syria. Obviously, I do not know the accuracy of this suggestion. The person in question quoted from some noted international commentators on foreign relations who believe there is widespread concern about the "lack of western support for the moderates" and their "effective abandonment" by the west. They argue that Assad is regaining momentum and suggest that air bombardments and barrel bombings are continuing. Obviously, I hope this correspondence is wrong in its suggestion that the talks will be "pointless". It is important that we air this viewpoint, which has been put to us. I do not know how well based it is. The humanitarian crisis in Syria has departed the public mind following the desperate typhoon disaster and subsequent humanitarian crisis in the Philippines. We hope the Tánaiste will continue to encourage the EU and the international community to provide more assistance to the people of Syria. We should recognise the good assistance that Syria has received from neighbouring countries and the pressures that have been placed on those countries.

Having been critical of the European External Action Service in the past, I acknowledge that High Representative Ashton has been praised for her role in achieving an interim agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. It is important for me to record that at a time when the work of the action service is being reviewed.

The outlook for the Middle East peace process is not very positive at the moment. Perhaps the Tánaiste could indicate to us whether there have been any developments regarding the ban on products from illegal settlements.

The Tánaiste referred to the unfortunate increase in violence in the Central African Republic. I think there was an Irish Aid programme there in the past. The Tánaiste might let us know whether we are in a position to assist the people of that country at this time.

I hope the humanitarian problems facing the people of the Philippines following the terrible disaster there will be considered at the Council meeting. When Mr. Peter Power of UNICEF, who is a former Dáil colleague of ours, gave this committee a detailed, effective and powerful presentation on the crisis a fortnight ago, he outlined very clearly the difficulties that will arise when the pictures go from our television screens and there is very little international coverage of the difficulties in the Philippines. We must be very conscious that they will need assistance in the long term.

It was brought to our attention that in one area where 90% of the community depends on fishing for an income, practically every boat and vessel had been shattered and broken. Sadly, the possibility of deriving a livelihood from the sea has been taken from this community. I hope humanitarian issues in Syria and the Philippines will be at the forefront of considerations when the Tánaiste meets his colleagues at the forthcoming Council. I thank him again for his detailed presentation.