Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to speak on this vitally important matter. Deputy Smith and I have raised the conflict in Syria on numerous occasions. I sometimes think I am wasting my breath but at least all I can be accused of in that regard is being consistent in trying to keep the matter on the agenda.

Earlier this week a further 65 to 70 people were slaughtered in Aleppo. This is just another grisly detail on a long list of horrific examples of the genocide being carried out there. Among those slaughtered in Aleppo were teenage boys. This seems to be a theme in Syria at present. It appears that children are being used as weapons of war in a conflict that is occurring in what was once a very highly developed society. Not only are brutal killings taking place but there appears to be a kind of perversion involved whereby the Syrian authorities seek to demonstrate, to both the outside world and their own people, just how cruel they can really be.

We have all heard the reports from the UN with regard to the horrors to which children have been subjected. I will not go into the details here but suffice it to say that all of the mechanisms of a normal society are being eroded on a daily basis in Syria. To date, almost 1,500 children have been killed in the conflict there. If action is not taken, there will be nothing left to fight for and the entire country will have been destroyed. What makes this matter more infuriating is that the world powers seem to have washed their hands of this conflict and are paying mere lip service in respect of the massacres which are taking place.

The UN-Arab League mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, has outlined the crisis in no uncertain terms to the United Nations Security Council. The latter must take responsibility for its part in this crisis. It is the Security Council's intransigence on the question of taking action in respect of the conflict that has exacerbated matters. Mr. Brahimi stated in recent days that "unprecedented levels of horror" have been perpetrated by both sides in the conflict and that "atrocious crimes" have been committed. He has been highly critical of the Security Council and has told it to get its house in order. In addition, he has stated that only the international community can now help. Was it not for the purpose of dealing with crises of this precise type that the United Nations was established in the first instance? Mr. Brahimi has urged those at the UN to set aside their differences, break the deadlock and take action to prevent the meltdown of Syrian society. The situation in Syria at present is quite similar to that which obtained in the Balkans in the 1990s.

There is now a real danger that surrounding nations will use Syria as a battlefield. Earlier today, there were reports of Israeli attacks on a Syrian truck convoy. Mr. Brahimi has stated that it will take real leadership on the part of world powers to broker a solution. He has warned that there will be dire consequences, not just for Syria but also for the entire Middle East region, if such a solution is not found.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the points made by Deputy Ann Phelan. The escalating conflict in Syria has cost more than 60,000 lives, has driven hundreds of thousands of people out of both their homes and their country and has destroyed the livelihoods of innumerable citizens. I understand that 2 million Syrians have been displaced internally and a further 2 million require urgent humanitarian assistance. These figures alone attest to the awfulness of this situation.

The appalling human cost of the conflict has horrified Irish people in recent months. We have witnessed barbaric scenes of bombings and executions on our television screens. It is all too clear that the regime of President Assad has lost its legitimacy and is utterly bankrupt. The exploitation of the conflict as a proxy war by Saudi Arabia and Iran in their efforts to control the Middle East, and, at a higher level, the utter intransigence of certain UN Security Council powers - namely, Russia and China - in the context of ensuring that this problem will be addressed present a serious diplomatic difficulty.

There are three issues that need to be addressed from an Irish perspective. The first of these is the provision of immediate aid to address the humanitarian and refugee crisis in surrounding countries. I warmly welcome the Government's pledge of almost €5 million, in addition to the provision of humanitarian aid, to address the deepening crisis. It is vital that we continue to ensure our aid is targeted at those areas where it is most needed. The second issue that must be addressed relates to the need to identify the support we can provide to the rebel groups. This should be done at EU level. I appreciate that we must tread carefully in pledging support to unknown rebel groups. The Arab Spring has riled the Middle East and we have witnessed the whiplash of armed extremism in Libya. The third issue relates to the diplomatic efforts at UN level to arrive at a feasible plan to bring the civil war in Syria to a close and ensure the transition of power to democratic institutions. The European Union should use its clout to pressurise Russia and China to abandon their zero-sum approach to the awful conflict. There is too much at stake in respect of this extremely serious issue for anyone to be allowed to play politics with it.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank Deputies Phelan and Smith for raising this issue. I agree that this is one of the most serious issues facing the entire world at present. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Tánaiste and I have all been trying to engage in respect of it as much as possible. I am pleased to be able to respond to this debate, having only just returned to Ireland a few hours ago following my attendance at the major UN pledging conference on Syria which took place in Kuwait yesterday.

The human cost of the brutal civil war now being waged in Syria has reached truly alarming proportions. More than 60,000 have been killed in 22 months, 2 million people have been internally displaced, a further 2 million are in need of urgent assistance and more than 700,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries. Given that 200,000 of the latter fled in the past two months, there is no doubt that there has been a rapid escalation in the number of people fleeing the country.

The sheer savagery and inhumanity of the conflict has been well underlined in recent days, with the latest reported massacre in Aleppo.

Against this background, it is at least encouraging to note the generosity and also what Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described as the global solidarity, which was evident at yesterday's meeting where more than $1.5 billion, in excess of what the UN requested, was pledged to meet the urgent humanitarian requirements over the next six months. Ireland was pleased to join in this effort with the Government pledging an additional €4.7 million towards the humanitarian response in Syria and neighbouring countries. This brings our total contribution of humanitarian aid to Syria over the past year to more than €7.1 million. Ireland and its EU partners have been to the forefront in responding to the humanitarian crisis. Additional assistance announced yesterday by the European Commission and EU member states combined came to $370 million, bringing total EU assistance to date to some $830 million.

There is no doubt that the overall situation on the ground is deteriorating and the dangers which the conflict in Syria poses to the wider region are becoming greater. The UN and Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, was characteristically candid when briefing the UN Security Council on Tuesday. He underlined the clear threat of Syria being progressively destroyed bit by bit unless the violence ends and some form of political process is initiated. The Tánaiste is attending the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels today. It will also address the situation and consider what further steps the EU can take to promote a political settlement.

The reality remains, however, that the only viable prospect of achieving a ceasefire and initiating some form of political process leading to transition, lies in the efforts of the special representative Mr. Brahimi. It remains incumbent on all sides within Syria and indeed all countries concerned with this conflict to extend the fullest co-operation and support to Mr. Brahimi's efforts. Any other option, including further militarisation or external intervention, will simply spell total disaster for the country, at a human cost which cannot be contemplated.

The brutal violence and repression which the Syrian regime has inflicted upon its own people must end. We must also continue to encourage the Syrian National Coalition to develop its structures and to co-operate fully with Mr. Brahimi's efforts. The Tánaiste has already extended an invitation to the leader of the SNC, Dr. al-Khatib, to visit Dublin for discussions and to hear their plans for promoting a political settlement within Syria.

The conflict in Syria undoubtedly represents the most serious crisis confronting the international community at present. Ireland will continue to work with EU and international partners. We will use our influence during our current EU Presidency to ensure efforts to end the violence and to promote a political settlement receive all possible support.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Ireland is dealing with the humanitarian issue for which I congratulate the Minister of State. I thank him for the increased aid to Syria. The second issue is the lack of action by the international powers. I am reminded of the saying, that the world is a dangerous place, not because of the evil that men do but because of those who stand idly by and do nothing.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for participating in the conference yesterday and for attending today to reply on this very important question. I trust the Tánaiste will ensure at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting today that the EU sanctions will at least be extended beyond the end of March. It is hoped that additional sanctions will be applied. The EU high representative, Baroness Ashton, chairs the Council of Foreign Ministers. It is very important that the Tánaiste, the Minister of State and the Government ensure that some better effort is made at UN level to bring about the necessary political support. It is not acceptable that the two major powers can be so intransigent when faced with the appalling loss of human life in Syria. I hope the Government will use every available forum during the Irish Presidency to ensure that this issue is given the attention it deserves in an effort to prevent the wholesale loss of life.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank the Deputies for those remarks. Yesterday I also met with the director general of UNICEF, the director general of the UN World Food Programme and with Commissioner Georgieva, to discuss how aid can be delivered and the role of non-governmental organisations. It is now easier to get essential aid into Syria. I also met Dr. al-Khatib at the Friends of Syria conference in December. He is the leader of the Syrian National Coalition. The Tánaiste and I invited him to Dublin to discuss these issues during the Irish Presidency. We hope to receive a positive response in this regard. As the Deputies said, the UN Security Council resolution is extremely important. That is the context in which the Arab League and the United Nations are moving forward with Mr. Brahimi. It is imperative for the members of the Security Council to recognise the seriousness of the situation and to cease the stand-off. I have no doubt that the sanctions will remain while the current situation continues.