Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am pleased to have the opportunity, with Deputy Alex White, to raise this important matter, although I am upset that it must be raised. It concerns the widespread and appalling brutality in Syria. Members will be aware of the reports of government forces in Syria firing mortar rounds and rockets and using heavy weaponry in civilian neighbourhoods. The United Nations has found that the orders for these attacks are coming from what it has determined to be the highest levels of the army and government officials. In a report to the UN Human Rights Council it states it has received credible and consistent evidence identifying both high and mid-ranking members of the armed forces who are ordering their subordinates to shoot at unarmed protesters, kill soldiers who refuse to obey such orders, arrest people without cause, mistreat detained persons and attack civilian neighbourhoods with indiscriminate tank and machine gun fire. So far, thousands have died.

Worryingly, Doctors Without Borders has issued a statement which refers to wounded patients and doctors being pursued. It states they are risking torture and arrest at the hands of the security service. Most of the wounded are no longer going to public hospitals. Civilians are left dying on the street because they cannot be transported to safety. Medical treatment must take place in secret and in makeshift and unsanitary operating theatres.

This will appal any right thinking person in the developed world. The frustration that many others and I feel is caused by the powerlessness of the international community to come to the aid of the people of Syria who are doing nothing more than peacefully seeking the liberty and freedom we enjoy in this country. The question for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is at what point do we stand up and shout stop. At what point does the developed world say enough is enough? There is also the issue of the UN Security Council being in a position of stalemate, which is obviously a concern. I look forward to hearing the Minister's reply.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The answer to the question posed by Deputy Harris is "Now". This is the point at which the international community must say, "Stop". Over 6,000 people have died in Syria since this time last year, an extraordinary and dreadful fact. We have seen escalating violence in the past week or two which was clearly described by Deputy Harris. Even in the last few days we have seen people whose job it is to report and be a witness of what happens in war situations and its impact on human beings, including young people, children and families, being attacked. Marie Colvin of The Sunday Times, a journalist doing no more than her job of being that witness, was herself killed, with one of her colleagues, in the course of one of these shocking attacks. She was a renowned journalist and a solid, reliable and robust witness to the impact of war in Syria and many other places where she had worked.

The answer to the question has to be that now is the time for the international community to respond. I know the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will attend a meeting in Tunis on Friday. It is not directly related to Syria but I understand attempts will be made, whether at the margins or otherwise of that meeting, to address this pressing and shocking issue for the international community.

We have much to preoccupy ourselves in this country, but it is essential we lift our heads from the challenges we face to see what is happening to ordinary human beings in another part of the world. The international community must respond, perhaps by way of armed assistance to the opposition. The opposition is fragmented but it is starting to indicate that it wants a clearer form of international intervention. There must be a stepping up to the plate by Russia and China. It is not acceptable for those two influential countries to maintain a veto on what the international community must do in that country.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Deputies Simon Harris and Alex White for raising this issue. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, who regrets he is unable to be present.

The situation in Syria is one of the utmost gravity which has attracted the almost universal condemnation of the international community. It is appropriate that we should discuss this issue today.

Because the Syrian authorities are not providing access, we do not have a clear picture of what is happening in Syria in terms of deaths, injuries, torture, rape and other abuses, but there is no doubting the scale of the suffering and the extent of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law due to the actions of the Syrian regime.

In the past month, the situation has deteriorated greatly. The Syrian army has escalated its violent attacks, including indiscriminate and relentless bombings, against civilian areas in the city of Homs and the northern province of Idlib. There are thousands of trapped civilians under merciless assault from their own government who urgently require protection and humanitarian assistance.

Ireland has been working intensively with the EU, the UN, the Arab League and other partners in the international community to compel the Syrian regime, through a series of robust economic, political and diplomatic measures, to cease its appalling attacks on the Syrian people.

At EU level, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed, on 1 December and 23 January, additional measures related to the energy, financial, banking and trade sectors, as well as the listing of additional individuals and entities involved in the violence or supporting the regime. The Government fully backs these measures. They come on top of extensive existing EU sanctions, including a ban on oil imports from Syria. Syria will also figure heavily on the agenda for the EU Foreign Affairs Council next Monday. The Tánaiste will be attending this meeting where there will be consideration of how the EU can step up even further the already considerable international pressure on the Assad regime to change course. This may include additional restrictive measures.

At UN level, Ireland and all its EU partners voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution on 16 February which condemned human rights violations in Syria and which was supported by an overwhelming majority of UN member states. The Tánaiste also outlined Ireland's serious concerns at the situation in Syria when he addressed the UN Security Council on 9 February. In addition, the Tánaiste discussed Syria with the UN Secretary General at a meeting on the same day.

The Government regrets very much that the Security Council, in failing to adopt on 4 February a draft resolution which commanded extensive support, has been unable so far to speak with a single voice on Syria. A strongly worded Security Council resolution would be a uniquely powerful and resonant demonstration of concern on the part of the international community and would add significantly to the pressure on the Assad regime. The Council's failure to date has instead provided a pretext for the Syrian regime to escalate its brutality against the civilian population.

The Arab League, for its part, has been providing strong leadership in relation to the Syria crisis. The peace plan which it outlined last November still provides the best basis for achieving a resolution. The initial meeting of the Friends of Syria group in Tunisia tomorrow, which the Tánaiste will attend, is also likely to prove valuable in considering how to assist Syrian civilians and in endeavouring to bring together representatives of Syria's fragmented peaceful opposition.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive reply on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and I thank the Minister for the leadership he has shown on behalf of our country on this. The fact that he will attend, on behalf of this country, the inaugural meeting of the Friends of Syria, in Tunisia tomorrow gives hope that this country can continue to do what it has always done, which is play its part in promoting human rights and protecting civilians from violence.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting of next week will be a crucial point for Europe to speak clearly with one voice and to leave our other international colleagues, particularly Russia and China, in no doubt as to exactly where the EU stands on this issue. It is worrying for anyone who has confidence in the UN to see the UN's outdated structures unable to reach agreement on this matter. The use of the veto by Russia and China has been extremely problematic. The politics and power play that continually happen at the Security Council is disconcerting.

I thank the Minister for his leadership.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State and, through her, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a strong response to the issue raised by Deputy Simon Harris and myself. It is important that we record our strong feelings as parliamentarians on this. The Government's response in the House and the evidence Deputy Shortall has given of the actions taken by the Government, particularly by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, is heartening. It is no more than we expect but it is, nevertheless, extremely heartening and encouraging.

Deputy Harris mentioned the clear rebuttal of the Syrian Government's argument that it is not responsible for attacking civilians. Marie Colvin, the journalist who was killed earlier this week, was asked recently on CNN about the Syrian regime's claims that it did not target civilians. She said, "It is a complete and utter lie that they are only going after terrorists. The Syrian army is simply shelling a city of cold, starving civilians".

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank both Deputies for raising this, and for their comments. It is the Minister's strong view and the Government's firm view that the complexity of the crisis in Syria cannot in any way be used as an alibi for inaction in the face of such grave violations of international norms and humanitarian law. The Government and our international partners are absolutely determined to redouble our efforts to apply concerted political, diplomatic and economic pressure to the Syrian regime until it ends the violent repression it has unleashed on its people.

I thank the Deputies for raising the matter.