Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----in our defence of human rights and of innocent civilians. The European Union has the potential to take a lead on this issue. High Representative Catherine Ashton has adopted a leadership role, particularly during the recent US presidential elections when there was very little engagement by the United States in the situation in the Middle East. I was pleased to see the intervention of the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. International intervention to influence both sides to lay down arms and to come to the negotiating table is in everyone's interests. As a representative of the Government I am happy to advocate that policy.

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