Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Deputy Brendan Smith stated that other events will push Syria down the agenda. The issue that has been pushed furthest down the agenda is the Middle East peace process. It is very much on my mind because I visited Palestine a couple of weeks ago. There is no doubt that settlements are oppressive and threatening. Apart from the moral and ethical aspects of the issue, the settlements also give rise to significant environmental and ecological issues. Large-scale building in such a small area is placing pressure on water supplies and is not doing the environment any good, not to speak of the other effects of settlement construction.

It was interesting to meet Israelis and Palestinians during our visit because I did not get a sense that the two state solution is making as much progress as the Tánaiste suggests. Ordinary people, including left-wing Israelis and Palestinians who are not involved in politics, do not consider a two state solution to be achievable in their lifetime.

While it is welcome to note the chemical weapons issue is being addressed, it has distracted attention from the serious suffering that is being caused by other types of weapons. We spoke previously about Ireland supporting proposals for humanitarian corridors, where a ceasefire would be called to allow assistance into Syria. The recent request by Valerie Amos of the United Nations that access be provided for food and medicine does not appear to have been heeded. After three years of appalling suffering, there is no end to civilian suffering. While talks have been arranged to discuss political solutions, no one is pressing for humanitarian issues to be addressed in the same way.

For the information of members, the EU special representative for the southern Mediterranean region, Mr. Bernardino León, will visit Ireland at the beginning of February to attend an AWEPA sponsored event on reconstituting constitutions. Some members of parliament from Arab spring countries who will also attend have been invited to a meeting of the Constitutional Convention.

I tabled questions to the Tánaiste about the Rohingya people, one of the ethnic groups in Burma which has suffered serious human rights abuses. Has this issue arisen in discussions on Burma? I will raise some points on Africa when the Tánaiste next speaks.