17 Sep 2013, 15:28
The current situation in Syria will be the focus of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on Wednesday when it meets with Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore TD.
Committee Chairman Pat Breen TD said: “Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 more than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict. With indiscriminate attacks commonplace inside Syria, the alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians in the Damascene suburb of Goutha marks a further and significant deterioration in the protection environment for Syria’s civilians.
Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to discuss the current situation in Syria in detail with Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore. As well as getting an update on Ireland’s and the EU’s position on the crisis, particularly the EU’s support for the Geneva II peace conference and its commitment to provide all support needed to achieve a political settlement, it also provides us with an opportunity to discuss our response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Syria. Ireland’s total contribution to this crisis to date stands at €10.8 million, of which €8.15 million has been provided in 2013. Funds have been provided to a range of established UN partners as well as to Irish NGOs.
Ireland’s military commitment to peacekeeping in the region is also likely to feature.”
The meeting will start in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 4.30pm on Wednesday, 18th September 2013.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Media queries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies
Seán Crowe, TD
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Olivia Mitchell, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.