Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State, I know he was late but at least he is in attendance. I believe this is the second time I have spoken on the topic of Syria and the situation has become graver. Given that Ireland is a member of the OSCE, of which we hold the chairmanship, we must voice our deepest concerns at the highest diplomatic level about the ongoing desperate situation in Syria, which appears to be on the brink of civil war. The UN has been trying to broker a ceasefire between opposing sides in recent months but it appears that has not been successful and the entire situation has escalated into one of horrific proportions.

If the latest reports from that country are to be believed, children are bearing the brunt of this civil unrest. Herein lies a great difficulty as the Syrian Government restricts journalists from moving freely, making it nearly impossible to independently verify accounts from either side. This action speaks volumes - why would it restrict coverage if it had nothing to hide? Very worrying reports are coming from the UN that children are being beaten, abused, tortured and subjected to sexual abuse. One report quoted a witness as saying several dozen boys and girls, between the ages of eight and 13, were forcibly taken from their homes and used by soldiers and militia members as human shields. An estimated 1,200 children have been killed in the 15-month conflict.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said the report had uncovered many grave violations against children. The report was completed before the Houla massacre in Syria on 25 May, when 49 of the 108 victims were said to be children, who were shot in the head or had their skulls smashed with blunt instruments. We must act now. I am reminded of the quote, "The world is a dangerous place, not because of the evil men do, but because of those that stand idly by and do nothing". It has gone well past that time and we cannot just stand idly by. While our thoughts are elsewhere on economic affairs in Europe, we must act at this stage and bring pressure to bear given that we hold the chairmanship of the OSCE. Members of the OSCE include the United States and Russia, which have a very large role to play. We need to do whatever we can.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing us to raise the matter. I echo the sentiments Deputy Ann Phelan eloquently expressed. I am conscious that the Tánaiste has been active on the matter and that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade will meet tomorrow for a special discussion on the issue. It is vital that parliaments discuss the crisis which is now of gargantuan proportions. There is a particular onus on those of us in the EU to take unified action. The European Union was a social and economic Union of great success. It has also, in itself, been very successful peace project. It behoves us to unite in a way that the UN has failed to do effectively in addressing the matter. We need to focus on the failure of the UN Security Council to address this dreadful crisis given the stance being adopted by the Russian and Chinese delegations in their own national interests. I call on the Tánaiste and other European foreign Ministers to liaise directly with their counterparts in Russia and China. It would be useful to call in the ambassadors of those two states.

Today's Financial Times carries horrific reports from the US Secretary of State, Ms Clinton, that the Russian Government is supplying attack helicopters to Syria to massacre its own people. The international community cannot stand idly by and accept what is going on in Syria where a monstrous regime is attacking and killing its own people. I echo what has been said about children in particular. While war - particularly civil war - is regrettable in every circumstance, to attack helpless, innocent children and put them at the forefront of this conflict is totally unacceptable and disgusts the Irish people. It goes to the heart of our belief in the need for us as an independent voice in Europe to stand up and be heard and not to allow ourselves to be in any way inhibited by our membership of the UN or EU. While acknowledging that the Tánaiste has been active, I ask him to redouble his efforts.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank Deputies Ann Phelan and Ó Fearghaíl for raising this urgent matter. The Government shares the concern of all right-thinking people at the escalating conflict in Syria which is now estimated to have claimed well over 10,000 lives in the past 15 months. There has been particular revulsion at the massacre in Houla on 25 and 26 May where more than 100 people, including 49 children, died as well as the reported mass killing of 78 people in the village of Al-Qubeir on 6 June. The Tánaiste has strongly condemned both these atrocities, including in statements issued on 27 and 30 May. Such atrocities, as well as the latest reports regarding the fate of the town of Haffa and the use of attack helicopters, provide further unwelcome testimony of the Syrian regime's utter disdain for human life and the welfare of its own people.

In the face of such atrocities, the Syrian people have every right to expect that there will be accountability and those responsible will be ultimately held to account. Ireland welcomes the strong statement issued by EU High Representative on 3 June on this issue.

The EU also actively worked to secure adoption of a resolution by the UN Human Rights Council on 1 June which extends the mandate of the UN Commission of Inquiry in Syria to investigate the events at Houla and report to the UN Security Council on possible criminal prosecutions. Referral of the situation in Syria by the Security Council to the International Criminal Court also remains an option and is one which the Government has already made clear it would be happy to support.

Despite the difficulties it is facing, the Annan plan remains the only agreed plan for ending the violence and promoting a peaceful transition in Syria. As joint UN-Arab League Special Envoy, Kofi Annan intimated to the UN Security Council last week that the problem lies not with his six-point plan but with getting the parties who have agreed it to honour their commitments. In particular, all parties should immediately cease all form of hostilities and the Assad regime must ensure the complete withdrawal of heavy weaponry and troops from population centres, the release of all political detainees and ensure free access to all, including media, humanitarian organisations and the UN. The humanitarian situation within Syria remains critical, with upwards of 1 million in need of assistance. Irish Aid has already provided €500,000 in emergency funding to assist the situation.

It is also critical that the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, UNSMIS, to which Ireland is contributing six officers, is allowed fulfil its mandate and enjoys full freedom of movement as well as security for its personnel. Recent attempts to prevent observers from carrying out their monitoring duties are completely unacceptable. The Minister for Defence is continuing to monitor the situation closely, with a view to ensuring the safety and security of the Irish officers serving with UNSMIS. If the Syrian regime or any other party continues to fail to meet their obligations under the plan, further action by the UN Security Council, including the imposition of sanctions, should be considered. This obviously argues for closer engagement with Russia, as it remains the country best placed to exert influence on the Syrian authorities at present. Special Envoy Annan has advocated an international contact group in this regard and this should be considered. Ireland is already active within the Friends of Syria group and will be represented at the next meeting of the group in Paris on 6 July.

No interest will be served by intensifying the conflict through either external military intervention or arming the opposition since we can already observe the impact which the Syrian crisis is having on the wider region, not least in neighbouring Lebanon. Pressure also must be maintained on the Syrian opposition to coalesce and agree a common platform, since this is an essential element for the Annan plan to succeed. Ultimately, an end to all violence as well as to Bashar Al-Assad's rule and an urgent political transition are required to resolve this crisis. The Annan plan, if fully implemented, offers the template for achieving this. Ireland and its EU partners will continue to work steadfastly in support of this aim.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I accept what the Minister has said but I still think a country that abuses children in the manner in which these poor Syrian children are being abused deserves a great deal more action. Syria is not a Third World country where, perhaps, a lack of education and democratic structures might excuse such behaviour. Syria is a leading light in the Arab League and is a modern example of a well structured society. This behaviour towards children is simply unacceptable from such an advanced nation. It appears the UN's appeals are falling on deaf ears, so it is up to Ireland and the EU to do something about this. Europe and the EU should impose whatever sanctions it can.

I welcome relations with Russia as the Russian influence in this situation could bring about some control. However, Deputy Ó Fearghaíl referred to the attack helicopters being ordered from Russia by Syria. It will be a new low if these helicopters are going to be used to shoot children.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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It is hard to know where we should go with this crisis. If what is reported in respect of Russia providing additional arms to this monstrous regime is true, it is an affront to international law. The members of the EU, led by the Tánaiste, must directly confront the Russian President and Government on that action. It is reprehensible, at the very least, that arms would be provided in a situation where they are being directed at children and women. In fact, there are reports that children are being strapped to armoured tanks. This repulses everybody who is right thinking and has a commitment to human rights and common decency.

In terms of the strategic and diplomatic approach that must be adopted to this, I agree it would probably be unwise to contemplate military intervention at this stage. Diplomacy must continue, but far greater support must be given to Mr. Annan for the implementation of his six-point plan. The EU, UN and the Arab League must work far more closely to forcefully support that plan.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank the Deputies for their supplementary contributions. It is certainly an extraordinarily frustrating situation. Virtually the entire world is pleading for a resolution to this matter. It is a savage civil war. More than 10,000 lives have already been lost and children appear to have been very much to the fore in suffering from the savage acts that have occurred. There are huge ethnic and religious divisions in the country so military intervention is a difficult measure to contemplate in such circumstances. It could very well add fuel to the fire. The only plan in town, so to speak, is the Kofi Annan plan, which has the support of the United Nations, the European Union and the Arab League. Almost all countries support it. Clearly, there are problems with Russia and China, and Russia is the country with most influence in that respect. The rumours that Russia is providing attack helicopters are still not substantiated but it would be a serious escalation if that is the case.

The European Union has been involved in imposing quite substantial sanctions relating to oil imports, arms sales, freezing of assets and a ban on luxury items, which are very much prized by the Assad family. UN sanctions are now being imposed and we support that. We would support any intensification of sanctions. The Tánaiste has been to the fore in arguing the case at the EU, the OSCE and at the UN, and will continue to do that.