Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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363. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community can improve support for the victims of the war in Syria; if new initiatives are required to protect civilians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, in conjunction with his European Union colleagues, can continue to combat the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19774/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 367 together.

I have repeatedly made clear Ireland’s absolute condemnation of military attacks on civilians in Syria. Such attacks are crimes and those responsible, in particular the Assad regime and Daesh, must be held accountable for their actions.

Ireland, in conjunction with all our EU partners and 29 other States, sponsored a resolution calling for the Security Council of the United Nations to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court in 2014, a resolution which was vetoed by two permanent members of the Security Council.

The only means of securing the protection Syrian civilians from the Assad regime, as well as Daesh and Al-Qaeda, is through the promotion of a sustainable political solution to the Syrian conflict which has destabilised the region and whose brutality and promotion of sectarian violence been the key factor in the promotion of radical and extremist ideologies.

Ireland has been a key supporter of the UN’s efforts to achieve an end to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. I call on all parties to support the UN’s efforts and to commit themselves to work sincerely and with urgency for a nationwide ceasefire and a negotiated peace agreement which will protect the rights of the Syrian people and preserve the pluralistic character, unity and sovereignty of a free Syria at peace.

Ireland’s total humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Syrian crisis will reach €62M by the end of 2016. This is Irish Aid’s largest response to a single crisis in recent years. Ireland’s funding to the Syria crisis is channelled via the UN, Red Cross and NGOs, and is spent on priority needs which include food aid, water and sanitation, shelter, education and protection (including child protection and prevention of gender-based violence).

This funding underlines Ireland’s continued commitment to responding to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and in neighbouring countries for millions of the most vulnerable Syrians, including refugees, internally displaced persons and their host communities.