Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

They were truly shocking and I will issue a formal statement on behalf of the Government on them.

Senator Jim Walsh also mentioned the Assad regime in Syria. We have taken a very strong position in calling on President Assad to introduce reforms and stand aside if he does not do so. We support the very strong position taken by the European Union, including the imposition of sanctions. As Senators know, attempts are being made at United Nations level to get a Security Council resolution on Syria. I have spoken to Mr. Lavrov, the Russian foreign Minister, about the situation and hope it will be possible to agree to a resolution.