Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I stress the importance of ensuring an adequate level of humanitarian aid to the region. I acknowledge what the Deputy has said with particular reference to refugees in Lebanon, in Jordan and in the wider region. In December, the United Nations released its 2015 Syria crisis appeal plan, requesting over $8.4 billion to meet the needs of millions of people in Syria and across the region. So far this year, I have approved funding of €1.8 million to alleviate suffering in Syria and neighbouring countries, but I acknowledge that we need to do more, as the Deputy has said. In this regard, a donor pledging conference will take place in Kuwait at the end of March. I am pleased to announce that the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Sean Sherlock, will attend. He will have an opportunity, on behalf of the Irish Government, to set out how we intend to target our assistance to Syria and the region this year. Ireland will also make a pledge in respect of how much funding we can commit to the Syria crisis in 2015. We are currently considering how Ireland can best respond to the needs there while remaining mindful of the huge needs of people affected by other humanitarian crises across the world, in Africa and elsewhere.

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