Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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137. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made to date in the United Nations adopting a resolution in relation to the Syrian conflict following the statement issued by Secretary of State, Senator Kerry and the Russian Foreign Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25916/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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More than two years after it first erupted, the conflict in Syria continues to be one of the greatest challenges confronting the international community. The dimensions of the crisis are truly daunting. An estimated 80,000 people have lost their lives; one-third of Syrians have either fled the country, are internally displaced or are otherwise in need of assistance; and there is an ever increasing threat to regional stability as mirrored by escalating tensions and violence in northern Lebanon and the recent horrific bombing in Reyhanli, southern Turkey in which fifty one people died. Since his appointment in August 2012 and in extremely challenging circumstances, the UN/League of Arab States Special Envoy Ladkhar Brahimi has shown great resolve in working to achieve these objectives. Ireland and its EU partners have expressed full support for his efforts, notably his search for a formula for transition based on last year’s Geneva Communiqué and providing for a transitional Government leading to free elections in Syria.

Special Envoy Brahimi has also long insisted on the crucial role of the international community in seeking a political settlement to the crisis, in particular through the UN Security Council. It is a source of great regret that the UN Security Council up to now has been unable to demonstrate leadership to the international community and adopt a strong Resolution on the crisis. Despite a number of unsuccessful efforts to agree a Resolution, it remains clear that only a united Council acting in concert can provide the necessary strong political backing to underpin any current peace efforts.

For this reason, I warmly welcome the agreement reached by the US and Russia, following bilateral discussions in Moscow earlier this month involving Secretary of State Kerry, President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, to work together on an International Conference on Syria which would be held in Geneva in the next few weeks. Both UN Secretary General Ban and Special Envoy Brahimi have welcomed this development. The EU has also pledged its full political support for the US/Russian initiative. Conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 27 May which I attended made clear that the EU would spare no effort in helping to create the appropriate conditions for a successful convening of this conference.

There is an onus on all sides involved with this crisis to do all possible to support the planned Geneva II conference and endure a successful outcome. I understand the Syrian Government has now agreed in principle to attend the talks and it is to be hoped that the Syrian democratic opposition, led by the Syrian National Coalition, will seize the opportunity offered by the US-Russia proposal and engage fully in a process of dialogue aimed at ending the violence and starting the much needed transition towards democratic rule in Syria.

Ireland and the EU will remain fully occupied at all levels of our international engagement in securing the earliest cessation of violence in Syria and in providing the Syrian population with the aid and care they need and the hope that their nightmare will soon end.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the United Nations or in other international fora the urgent need for the international community to meet its commitments regarding humanitarian aid for Syria and that particular region; the level of humanitarian aid that has been provided to that region in relation to commitments made by the international community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25917/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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At present, a total of 6.8 million people require immediate humanitarian assistance inside Syria. There are over 4 million Syrians who have been internally displaced, while a further 1.5 million people have been forced to abandon their country altogether. Countries hosting refugees, such as Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon, are under great pressure as the influx continues. There are also grave concerns that the spread of disease could have catastrophic consequences as temperatures rise in the coming months. Ireland has already provided over €8.15 million in assistance to Syria and the wider region, making us one of the most generous donors to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis. This support from the Irish people has been provided through credible partners such as WFP, UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

As one of the founding members of the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) initiative, Ireland is committed to acting as a responsible and accountable donor. We are also committed to the implementation of the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, which articulates the EU and its Member States’ commitment to ensuring that humanitarian aid pledges are met in a timely manner and are clearly linked to the needs of those most affected.

As part of our overall total support to the Syria crisis response, I pledged €4.7 million at the High-Level International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in January 2013. Since I made that commitment, Ireland has already surpassed it, with funding of €5.7 million having been provided to date this year. The UN plans for the humanitarian situation in Syria and its neighbouring countries requested a total of €1.5 billion. The pledges at the International Pledging Conference reached this amount but regrettably the international community has only provided funding valued at just over 70% of the pledged commitments to date. We are doing all we can to ensure that other States follow our example in meeting their promises in full and without delay.

During my visit to al-Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan in 2012 and the Tánaiste’s visit to Nizip refugee camp in southern Turkey in April this year, we both drew attention to the plight of Syrians and the urgency for global action to address their needs. As Presidency of the Council of European Union during the first half of 2013, we have also underlined the gravity of the humanitarian situation, including at the informal meeting of the Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) held in Dublin last month. We have also highlighted the dire humanitarian situation and the need for further donor support at the ‘Friends of Syria’ conferences in Paris, Tunis, Istanbul and Marrakesh and the ‘Syria Humanitarian Forum’ discussions in Geneva. When I meet Valerie Amos (Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator) in New York next week, I will raise this very serious humanitarian situation and discuss with her how we can all work together to achieve an effective humanitarian response.

As the Deputy will be aware, humanitarian needs are continuing to escalate, both within Syria and in neighbouring countries. Ireland will therefore continue to use every opportunity to put a spotlight on this deteriorating situation and emphasise the imperative for all of us to fulfil promises made to assist those worse affected by this conflict.