Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The Tánaiste has put his finger on the issue. What should the international community do when there is obvious civil strife taking place to the extent that has been taking place in recent months and still continues? Does the international community and do we as participants in that thinking stand aside and do nothing or do we try to influence in some way as the Tánaiste has set out? For example there will always be people who will take both sides - sometimes in the same instance. How does one then resolve the problem? Does one presume that by the international community doing nothing the problem will go away or will it be seen to give reassurance to the aggressors that they can continue indefinitely and seek out their own way to resolve any problem or put down any disquiet or civil unrest in a most aggressive fashion?

I ask the Tánaiste whether there is something more the international community could do by way of diplomatic and other pressures to bring about a resolution that will not end up in the enormous loss of life that continues at the moment.

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