Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 143 of the programme for Government sets out a commitment to "continue to play an active role at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, the OSCE and through the UN, in seeking diplomatic resolutions to crises and conflict, with particular reference to Syria, Iraq, Libya, and the Ukraine". Everybody will have been absolutely appalled and horrified by yesterday's barbaric attack on innocent civilians, including many children, in Syria. Up to 100 people were killed and over 250 people were injured. I ask the Taoiseach to outline what the Government intends to do to fulfil the programme for Government commitment with respect to the UN and the OSCE. Certain key countries that have been supportive of Syria must be held to account. There must be a degree of accountability regarding chemical attacks of this kind. As we all recall, the then US President said in 2012 that this was a red-line issue. Nothing happened as a result of that. People think they can act with impunity. It is important for the international community to stand firm on this issue. It needs to begin to engage in mechanisms to deal with it.

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