Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the EU Council's actions to be taken and Ireland's contribution following the discussion on Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47589/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The deeply worrying situation in Syria was a key item addressed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council which I attended in Luxembourg on 15^th October. The Council adopted strong conclusions which made clear that the EU continues to stand by the Syrian people in their courageous struggle for freedom, dignity and democracy.

The absolute priority remains stopping all violence and ending oppression. The Council expressed its full support for the efforts of the UN/Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, to secure an early ceasefire and promote an overall political settlement. There was clear agreement within the Council on the necessity for the international community, including the UN Security Council and the main regional powers, to uphold their responsibilities and work alongside Special Envoy Brahimi. While it is regrettable that his call for a pause in the fighting on the occasion of the Eid al Adha festival was not observed on the ground, we must continue to support his efforts in pursuit of a peaceful and orderly political transition.

No political solution in Syria will happen without a wide consensus among those opposing Bashar al-Assad’s oppressive rule. The Council urged all opposition groups to set aside their differences and agree on a set of values and common objectives towards a genuine political transition.

The Council also expressed deep concern concerning the spill-over effects of the crisis on neighbouring countries. It strongly condemned the shelling by Syrian forces of Turkish territory, including the attack on the border town of Akcakale on 3 October, and warned again about the dangers of further militarisation of the conflict while calling for the flow of arms to Syria to be curbed.

The rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation was also discussed. The Council recalled the moral imperative for the international community to step up assistance to all affected populations in Syria and neighbouring countries. Ireland, for its part, is already making a substantial contribution to humanitarian relief efforts, having provided €2.45 million in assistance to date which has been principally channelled through UNHRC, ICRC and WHO. At the end of August, the Minister of State for Development Cooperation, Joe Costello T.D., visited Zatari refugee camp in Jordan in this connection.

The Council also approved a further round of restrictive measures targeted against the Assad regime and its supporters, giving the Syrian Government’s continuing failure to end repression and to desist from waging war and inflicting horrendous suffering on its own people.

While EU sanctions have been effective in increasing pressure on the regime, I nonetheless continue to believe that the most effective measure which could be taken now to end the violence in Syria would be the imposition of a comprehensive arms embargo by the UN Security Council.

The European Council, which the Taoiseach attended in Brussels on 18/19 October, also adopted brief Conclusions on Syria which essentially endorsed those adopted by the FAC on 15 October.