Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the EU or the UN are considering additional sanctions against Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4771/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Since the crisis first erupted almost two years ago, the EU has been prompt in adopting a wide range of stringent measures against the Assad regime and its supporters so as to compel them to stop the violence and to engage in a genuine and inclusive process of national dialogue mapping a way out of the crisis. EU sanctions include a range of individual listings as well as restrictions on goods and services, including an oil and arms embargo. The EU General Affairs Council at the end of November renewed the sanctions package in place against Syria for a period of three months. A review of these sanctions is now taking place in Brussels at official level and the Foreign Affairs Council on 31 January will discuss the further extension of the EU sanctions package beyond the end of March.

Ireland’s position remains one of support for the continuation of the EU's sanctions, including the arms embargo. The sanctions complement the efforts on the political track which are being led by UN/Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, to bring about an end to the violence and to get some form of political process underway. Given the current divisions at UN level, there are no international harmonised sanctions in force and Ireland, together with its EU partners, will continue to urge the UN Security Council to adopt constraining measures against the Syrian authorities, including a global arms embargo.