Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions being taken at EU and UN level in response to the Syrian Government's use of violence against pro-democracy demonstrators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10112/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am extremely concerned about the use of excessive force in Syria, including killings and detentions of unarmed protestors. I call on the Syrian Government to immediately stop all violent action against its own people and to genuinely permit its citizens to assemble and protest peacefully. Detained peaceful protestors and activists must be released without delay. The Syrian Government must respond to the legitimate demands which have been made for meaningful political reforms and the launching of a process of genuinely inclusive national dialogue. The EU has also clearly called for an end to violence against unarmed protestors in Syria and the immediate start of genuine dialogue. I fully support the strong statements of EU High Representative Ashton on 29 and 23 April and the conclusions agreed by EU Foreign Affairs Ministers at their 12 April Council in Luxembourg in this regard. In addition to these political statements, Ireland is working with its partners in the EU and the UN to persuade Syria to desist from its present violent and ultimately ruinous course of action. The EU has taken, or will shortly take, a number of steps to increase the pressure on the Syrian Government. It will implement an embargo on arms and equipment used for internal repression. The EU will urgently consider further appropriate and targeted measures with the aim of achieving an immediate change of policy by the Syrian leadership. The EU has decided not to take further steps with regard to taking forward its association agreement with Syria. The EU will also review all aspects of its co-operation with the Syrian authorities including under the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument.

The UN has also been active and fully seized of this issue. Ireland fully supports the unequivocal statements on Syria delivered by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on 22 April and the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 25 April. On 28 April, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva held a special session to discuss the situation in Syria at which the Irish Ambassador to the UN in Geneva delivered a statement condemning the recent violence. The Human Rights Council agreed a strong resolution which condemned the violence against peaceful protestors, called for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained persons and stressed the need for a credible investigation by the Syrian authorities. It also asked the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently dispatch a mission to Syria to investigate recent violations of human rights law. Ireland, together with its partners in the EU and the UN, will continue to closely follow events in Syria and to take appropriate action to ensure that the Syrian authorities take the steps that the international community demand. I believe it is vitally important that the international community speaks out against the unacceptable violence against protestors in Syria with the same insistence as it does in relation to instances of violence and repression occurring elsewhere in the region. Ireland will continue to support all those who aspire to democracy and human rights in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East.