Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Renua Ireland)
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I apologise for missing the presentation, which I now have read. I will make a few brief points. Can Mr. Al Habib pinpoint or give members a view as to when the breakdown in Syria happened? Fifteen or 20 years ago, one would have thought Syria was doing reasonably well and there were not that many difficulties there. What was the spark or the straw that broke the camel's back that caused these difficulties to break out in Syria? I believe Mr. Al Habib also mentioned in his submission to beware the refugees who come here and perhaps not to take them at face value, because some of them may be here because they are well connected or whatever.

We hear on occasion that the groups fleeing are composed not of family units but mainly of young males between certain ages. Will Mr. Al Habib give his perspective on that?

I am not saying that Mr. Al Habib goes easy on ISIS in his presentation, but he does not seem to be as critical of it as one might expect. Here in the West we are very aware of the dramatic and barbaric incidents for which that group is responsible, as he did mention. Does Mr. Al Habib see any future for the Assad regime or will it not, in his view, be part of the solution?