Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 1 December 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

Situation in Syria: Discussion

9:00 am

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am trying to find a way forward and to learn from people such as Mr. Yassin-Kassab and others. He knows more about the local scene than I do, to be frank and honest with him. It is a matter of trying to get to a point at which somebody must say or try to do something to commence some sort of negotiations, whether with the United Nations or any other body. As Mr. Yassin-Kassab said, this thing could go on for years. None of the big powers, such as the United States, seems to be showing any great interest in it. The situation is drifting. It is a little like Lebanon. We in Ireland know a little about Lebanon because we have had troops there for 30 years on a peacekeeping mission. It is a matter of trying to find some way, whatever small input we might have, to commence some actions that might bring about the beginning of talks aimed at a resolution.