Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions taken by the Government, the Minister and his Department with regard to the current situation in Syria and specifically in Aleppo; if the Minister has formally relayed to the Russian ambassador, the Russian Government, the Syrian authorities, the revulsion of the Irish people to their actions in Syria and especially in Aleppo; and if he will update the house on the situation. [31842/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I want to make clear my total condemnation of the bombardment of Aleppo. The attacks by the Assad regime and its allies, including Russia, against eastern Aleppo are clearly disproportionate and the deliberate targeting of hospitals, medical personnel, schools and essential infrastructure and the widespread civilian casualties may well amount to war crimes. Our concerns have been conveyed in the clearest possible terms to the Russian authorities. Ireland does not recognise the legitimacy of the 2014 Syrian Presidential elections and has ceased all diplomatic or political contacts with the Assad regime in Syria. The Government has provided unprecedented levels of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people since 2012, providing €62 million in support. I also spoke with UN special envoy Stafan de Mistura last week, underlining our continuing and strong support for his efforts to stem the destruction of Syria and her people. On Thursday last the Taoiseach, along with his colleagues at the European Council reviewed EU efforts to end this horrific violence in Aleppo and Syria. The US will continue to be a key actor in efforts to bring about a cessation of hostilities. In the coming days, I will have an opportunity to discuss the situation in Syria with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, to make known Ireland’s concerns and to hear about his latest efforts, in the context of the appalling violence in Syria.

I will continue to press for accountability, both to provide the victims with the hope of redress and in the hope that it will deter those involved from even worse atrocities. This has been central to our interventions at the UN in New York and at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. We have resettled hundreds of Syrians across Ireland, including in my home town, some of them survivors of torture by the Assad regime, and we will accept thousands more. We remain engaged through the European Union in the International Syria Support Group and continue to support efforts to find a political resolution to the Syrian conflict.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. I would like to know specifically if he has yet met with the Russian ambassador face to face to convey the views of the Irish people with regard to Russia's role in Syria and in Aleppo. I am acutely aware that there are other actors in that theatre of war. We have an opportunity to put it directly to the Russian ambassador and I believe the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade should do so, and I hope he will. I am sure he will. In that context, will the Government support the Russian Government's bid to be a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council? What are the Minister's and the Government's views in restricting the veto of permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, which I believe has hamstrung the United Nations so far?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have also condemned the actions of Russia with particular reference to its engagement on the United Nations Security Council. I am asked what Ireland can do in support of ending the conflict. Ireland supports the effort of the UN to renew political negotiations based on the 2012 Geneva communiqué. I have repeatedly made clear our full support for UN special envoy to Syria, Stafan de Mistura, with whom I spoke last week. I urge all parties to take steps to give effect to the most recent Geneva communiqué and their principles - an immediate end to all violence, the setting up of the traditional governing body with executive powers and control over the Syrian security forces and the implementation of a constitutional reform process which preserves the pluralistic character and nature of Syria. I directly relayed these concerns to the Russian ambassador, through my officials some weeks ago, and I have met with the Russian ambassador. I directly conveyed my views, the views of the Irish Government and the views of the Irish people on the human catastrophe that is unfolding in Syria and in particular in the city of Aleppo.

Prior to this meeting, my views were conveyed clearly on two occasions to the Russian ambassador by my senior officials at my specific direction which, as Deputy Darragh O'Brien knows, is the normal diplomatic channel and practice for Foreign Ministers. Subsequently, these concerns were conveyed again to the ambassador and a senior official in the Russian foreign ministry who recently visited Dublin.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad that the Minister has conveyed his concerns directly. I am aware of the normal diplomatic protocol, but the situation in Syria, specifically in Aleppo, is such that it is important that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade meet the ambassador directly face to face. It is welcome that he has done this. Will the Government support the Russian Government's bid to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council? I asked this question during our debate last week. I am asking it again and hope I will get an answer to it this afternoon.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government does not have view on this decision, but I will continue, in all of my utterances at official level and directly, to convey my views to the Russian authorities through their ambassador in Dublin. I will continue to make my views known in the House. I will continue to work with my colleagues in ensuring every effort is made on the part of Ireland to do what we can to influence what is a very serious, tragic and most unacceptable situation. I have made my views known publicly in the House and at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday of last week where I worked with my colleagues in crafting a strong statement which was issued following its meeting. In the course of the meeting I participated in a lengthy discussion on the situation in Syria with the UN Secretary General's special envoy, Staffan de Mistura. There is no doubt - I say this for the purposes of providing clarity and reassurance for Members of the House - about Ireland's views on these matters. They are a matter of public record, including in the Oireachtas in the House and at committee level, in the European Union and at the United Nations.