Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the issue of the escalating conflicts in Syria and Yemen at the European Council meeting. [31821/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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At last week's European Council, EU leaders strongly condemned the ongoing aerial attacks on Aleppo by the Syrian regime and Russia and urged both states to bring an immediate end to the atrocities being committed. They repeated calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and stressed that all necessary steps be taken to ensure humanitarian access to Syria. The need to ensure that those who have committed atrocities and breached humanitarian law are held to account was also highlighted. The question of sanctions in response to Russian and Syrian actions in Aleppo was also discussed. It was agreed that the EU would consider all available options should the atrocities against the people of Aleppo continue.

The Taoiseach stressed Ireland's concerns over the crisis in Syria and in Aleppo in particular. I would underline that Russia is bound by international law to ensure the protection of the civilian population and unimpeded humanitarian access and our strong view that Russia must be held responsible for its military actions in Syria and for its support for the Assad regime.

The crisis in Yemen was not on the European Council agenda. However, the EU set out a clear position in the Council conclusions adopted by Foreign Ministers in November 2015, reiterating the EU's support for a political solution to the crisis based on UN Security Council Resolution 2216, and calling for an immediate end to fighting and the establishment of an inclusive political process.