Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am on public record as stating that I do not support the lifting of the arms embargo and the further militarisation of the conflict in Syria. The EU's sanctions regime in respect of Syria is due for renewal and I expect it will be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in May. As is well known, some member states have been seeking a lifting of the arms embargo. Ireland is among a number of countries that do not support such action.

However difficult it may be, we must work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria. That conflict is complex, brutal and savage and has had a considerable impact on Syrians. To date, an estimated 70,000 people have been killed. This is probably a conservative estimate. More than 1 million people have been driven out of the country into refugee camps and approximately 2 million people have been internally displaced. We are attempting to address this significant humanitarian crisis.

In this context, it is important that the situation not be militarised further, either by the actions of other states or more arms entering that bloody and brutal conflict.

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