Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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110. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the use of barrel bombs by the Assad regime in Syria, which is causing death and destruction to more and more civilians; and if he will support calls for a no-fly zone in Syria, as highlighted by many non-governmental organisations as being of utmost importance for reducing the death toll in the ongoing conflict. [28343/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I have repeatedly condemned all violence against civilians in Syria by the Assad regime, militia forces and terrorist groups, including the abhorrent use of barrel bombs which are an indiscriminate weapon aimed primarily at terrorizing the Syrian population.

I reiterate Ireland's support for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.

Any decision on the possible establishment of a no-fly zone in Syria is a matter which falls to the UN Security Council. Ireland has consistently supported greater engagement by the Security Council on tackling the crisis in Syria and co-sponsored a recent resolution on referral of the Syrian conflict to the International Criminal Court earlier this year.

Regrettably, the Security Council has in recent years repeatedly failed to agree on effective measures to tackle the political and security situation in Syria, with repeated vetoes on proposed action by permanent members of the Council. There is little prospect that any proposal for such a resolution will be approved by the Council at this time.