Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to speak on this vitally important matter. Deputy Smith and I have raised the conflict in Syria on numerous occasions. I sometimes think I am wasting my breath but at least all I can be accused of in that regard is being consistent in trying to keep the matter on the agenda.

Earlier this week a further 65 to 70 people were slaughtered in Aleppo. This is just another grisly detail on a long list of horrific examples of the genocide being carried out there. Among those slaughtered in Aleppo were teenage boys. This seems to be a theme in Syria at present. It appears that children are being used as weapons of war in a conflict that is occurring in what was once a very highly developed society. Not only are brutal killings taking place but there appears to be a kind of perversion involved whereby the Syrian authorities seek to demonstrate, to both the outside world and their own people, just how cruel they can really be.

We have all heard the reports from the UN with regard to the horrors to which children have been subjected. I will not go into the details here but suffice it to say that all of the mechanisms of a normal society are being eroded on a daily basis in Syria. To date, almost 1,500 children have been killed in the conflict there. If action is not taken, there will be nothing left to fight for and the entire country will have been destroyed. What makes this matter more infuriating is that the world powers seem to have washed their hands of this conflict and are paying mere lip service in respect of the massacres which are taking place.

The UN-Arab League mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, has outlined the crisis in no uncertain terms to the United Nations Security Council. The latter must take responsibility for its part in this crisis. It is the Security Council's intransigence on the question of taking action in respect of the conflict that has exacerbated matters. Mr. Brahimi stated in recent days that "unprecedented levels of horror" have been perpetrated by both sides in the conflict and that "atrocious crimes" have been committed. He has been highly critical of the Security Council and has told it to get its house in order. In addition, he has stated that only the international community can now help. Was it not for the purpose of dealing with crises of this precise type that the United Nations was established in the first instance? Mr. Brahimi has urged those at the UN to set aside their differences, break the deadlock and take action to prevent the meltdown of Syrian society. The situation in Syria at present is quite similar to that which obtained in the Balkans in the 1990s.

There is now a real danger that surrounding nations will use Syria as a battlefield. Earlier today, there were reports of Israeli attacks on a Syrian truck convoy. Mr. Brahimi has stated that it will take real leadership on the part of world powers to broker a solution. He has warned that there will be dire consequences, not just for Syria but also for the entire Middle East region, if such a solution is not found.

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