Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the suspected use of chemical weapons by Government and opposition forces in Syria; and if he has discussed this with his European counterparts. [23227/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am aware of the allegations that chemical weapons have been used in Syria. Any use of chemical weapons would have appalling humanitarian consequences, is clearly contrary to international legal norms and must be utterly condemned. British, French, US and Turkish intelligence sources have indicated that material they have recovered indicates the possible use of the nerve agent sarin. At the moment, the available evidence is neither categorical, nor can it give a clear picture of who used the gas, as allegations have been made against both the Syrian authorities and opposition forces. What is clear is that an extremely worrying picture is emerging.

The European Union has repeatedly called on the Syrian authorities never to use its chemical weapons and to store them securely pending destruction under independent verification. We have made the same calls in a national capacity. At the recent Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which took place only last month, the EU again expressed its grave concern at the allegations. The 188 States Party to the Convention agreed that ‘the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances would be reprehensible and completely contrary to the legal norms and standards of the international community’. Regrettably, Syria is not a party to this Convention but it is bound by the 1925 Geneva Protocol which prohibits the use of chemical weapons.

The EU has also written to the United Nations Secretary-General to insist that the investigation into allegations of use of chemical weapons in Syria which he is attempting to establish have unfettered access within Syria and that it must be comprehensive and investigate all serious allegations. While discussions on the subject are ongoing in New York, it has not proven possible so far for the investigation team to commence its work as the Syrian authorities have refused to agree to the Terms of Reference requested by the Secretary-General. The most recent information to emerge from Syria clearly makes it all the more urgent that this investigation be allowed to proceed without delay. I call on the Syrian authorities to agree the Terms of Reference immediately to enable the investigation to begin its important work.