Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has raised this issue with me already and I know his concerns are genuine. There was quite a long debate on Syria in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting this week.

On 9 May 2011, the EU agreed to impose restrictive measures, or sanctions, on members of the Syrian regime to put pressure on them to end the violent repression of the civilian population in Syria. Targeted EU sanctions are in place against over 250 people and almost 70 entities complicit in the violent repression of the civilian population in Syria. The first person on this list is Bashar al-Assad, whose forces have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The sanctions also include an oil embargo, restrictions on investments, a freeze of the Syrian central bank’s assets and export restrictions on equipment and technology which might be used for internal repression, or for interception of Internet or telephone communications. There are no sanctions on food, medicines or most other civilian goods. The EU’s Syria sanctions include exemptions for essential civilian needs and humanitarian assistance.

The EU keeps the impact of sanctions under constant review. It will consider options to mitigate any unintended consequences which can be documented as relating directly to the measures themselves, as distinct from the more general economic disruption caused by the conflict and the Assad regime’s actions.

Ireland has consistently supported EU sanctions targeting the Assad regime and its supporters. It will continue to do so as long as the situation on the ground justifies these measures. To lift these sanctions would amount to tacit support for the Assad regime and would serve to encourage further impunity with regard to attacks on civilians, as well as disregard for the UN-led peace process.

There are numerous barriers to humanitarian access in Syria but these are as a result of actions by the parties to the conflict, particularly the Assad regime. I am aware of the challenges faced by NGOs operating in Syria. However, I am confident that EU sanctions are still justified.

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