Dáil debates

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Topical Issue Debate

Syrian Conflict

3:30 pm

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the fact that significant funding from our overseas development aid budget has been allocated for this worthy humanitarian effort. In fairness to Europe, it has been the best contributor to the humanitarian effort. As I have said to the Tánaiste during previous debates on this matter during Question Time and Topical Issues, Europe needs to keep reminding the rest of the international community of its serious obligation to help out and try to alleviate the horror, suffering and nightmare that is so prevalent in Syria and, as the Minister of State mentioned, in adjoining countries. In particular, the EU must remind the UN Security Council of the need to fulfil its obligations. I thought Commissioner Ashton was extremely quiet on this issue during the summer months, so I was interested to read the statement she made about a week ago in which she quite rightly stated that the chemical attack was a blatant "violation of international law, a war crime, and a crime against humanity". Her statement, which was issued after the Council of Ministers meetings, also called "on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities". I think every Parliament that is concerned with human rights and with the dignity of every individual must send a clear message to that effect.

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