Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do and it is totally unrelated. To put things in perspective let us consider the appalling situation in Syria with the plight of children dying of starvation in some of the besieged towns. Will the Acting Leader organise for the Tánaiste to come to the House to update us on the situation? We all read in the newspapers that medicines and aid supplies are being prevented from getting to the most deprived and suffering people. The relief agencies are doing an amazing job in appalling circumstances but they are fighting a losing battle. There is a lack of urgency among the international community to get this crisis resolved. The death toll continues to rise and more refugees are moving to the surrounding countries. The crisis is of enormous proportions. More than 100,000 people have died so far and several million citizens have been displaced. We have not had a conversation with the Tánaiste in the House in recent times on the matter or with the Minister of State, Deputy Costello. I ask the Acting Leader to organise this debate. We are heading into winter and it is quite likely there will be significant loss of life in the coming months. As a sovereign country and a member of the European Community, it is incumbent on us to up the ante and heighten pressure on other significant members of the international community to do something significant in Syria.