Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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269. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss the round-table meeting he had with Irish non-governmental organisation representatives on 9 September 2015; the outcome of that meeting; if there are plans for a similar meeting in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23179/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I met with the CEOs of the leading Irish humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisations on 9 September 2015 to discuss the Syria crisis and migration challenges. The then Minister of State, Mr. Seán Sherlock, T.D. and Tánaiste, Ms. Joan Burton, T.D., along with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, also attended. The CEOs of Concern, Trócaire, GOAL, Christian Aid, Tearfund, World Vision, Plan Ireland and Oxfam attended. Each of these NGOs has received Irish Aid funding for humanitarian work in response to the Syria crisis.

The focus of the meeting was on the devastating humanitarian impact of the Syria crisis, the migration crisis and the possibilities for the promotion of a long-term political solution. The NGOs recognised Ireland’s strong commitment to provision of humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees and host communities in Syria and neighbouring countries, which has been crucial in alleviating suffering. Ireland has pledged €20 million in support for the Syria crisis this year, which will bring our total humanitarian assistance to Syria to €62 million since 2012 by the end of this year. We are working with our UN, EU, Red Cross and NGO partners to maximise the effectiveness and impact of this funding.

My Department meets regularly with the Irish NGOs on this and other crises. The Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr. Joe McHugh, T.D., met with the CEOs and colleagues from a number of humanitarian NGOs last week in Dublin to reflect on the World Humanitarian Summit which he attended in May, shortly after his appointment. We will continue to engage closely with the NGOs on the continuing Syria and migration crises.