Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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674. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the election of Syria as a new member of the World Health Organisation executive board given the current nature and purported crimes of the Syrian regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31836/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The human rights abuses and breaches of International Humanitarian Law committed by the Syrian regime are extremely well documented. Ireland has consistently called for full accountability for crimes committed, including through our statements on the UN Security Council, and statements at the UN Human Rights Council.

The EU has also instituted a series of sanctions against the Syrian regime and its supporters in response to the violent oppression by the regime of the civilian population in Syria.

The selection process of the World Health Organisation Executive Board operates on a regional basis. Syria was elected as a member of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office: neither Ireland nor other EU Member States had a role in Syria's selection.