Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Phelan and Smith for raising this issue. I agree that this is one of the most serious issues facing the entire world at present. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Tánaiste and I have all been trying to engage in respect of it as much as possible. I am pleased to be able to respond to this debate, having only just returned to Ireland a few hours ago following my attendance at the major UN pledging conference on Syria which took place in Kuwait yesterday.

The human cost of the brutal civil war now being waged in Syria has reached truly alarming proportions. More than 60,000 have been killed in 22 months, 2 million people have been internally displaced, a further 2 million are in need of urgent assistance and more than 700,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries. Given that 200,000 of the latter fled in the past two months, there is no doubt that there has been a rapid escalation in the number of people fleeing the country.

The sheer savagery and inhumanity of the conflict has been well underlined in recent days, with the latest reported massacre in Aleppo.

Against this background, it is at least encouraging to note the generosity and also what Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described as the global solidarity, which was evident at yesterday's meeting where more than $1.5 billion, in excess of what the UN requested, was pledged to meet the urgent humanitarian requirements over the next six months. Ireland was pleased to join in this effort with the Government pledging an additional €4.7 million towards the humanitarian response in Syria and neighbouring countries. This brings our total contribution of humanitarian aid to Syria over the past year to more than €7.1 million. Ireland and its EU partners have been to the forefront in responding to the humanitarian crisis. Additional assistance announced yesterday by the European Commission and EU member states combined came to $370 million, bringing total EU assistance to date to some $830 million.

There is no doubt that the overall situation on the ground is deteriorating and the dangers which the conflict in Syria poses to the wider region are becoming greater. The UN and Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, was characteristically candid when briefing the UN Security Council on Tuesday. He underlined the clear threat of Syria being progressively destroyed bit by bit unless the violence ends and some form of political process is initiated. The Tánaiste is attending the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels today. It will also address the situation and consider what further steps the EU can take to promote a political settlement.

The reality remains, however, that the only viable prospect of achieving a ceasefire and initiating some form of political process leading to transition, lies in the efforts of the special representative Mr. Brahimi. It remains incumbent on all sides within Syria and indeed all countries concerned with this conflict to extend the fullest co-operation and support to Mr. Brahimi's efforts. Any other option, including further militarisation or external intervention, will simply spell total disaster for the country, at a human cost which cannot be contemplated.

The brutal violence and repression which the Syrian regime has inflicted upon its own people must end. We must also continue to encourage the Syrian National Coalition to develop its structures and to co-operate fully with Mr. Brahimi's efforts. The Tánaiste has already extended an invitation to the leader of the SNC, Dr. al-Khatib, to visit Dublin for discussions and to hear their plans for promoting a political settlement within Syria.

The conflict in Syria undoubtedly represents the most serious crisis confronting the international community at present. Ireland will continue to work with EU and international partners. We will use our influence during our current EU Presidency to ensure efforts to end the violence and to promote a political settlement receive all possible support.

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