Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Eamon Gilmore.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Syrians for democracy and renewal. There is a clear onus on the international community to
protect the people of Syria from further suffering and to promote a speedy resolution of this
conflict through peaceful political dialogue. It is clear that President Assad will not begin this
process without additional pressure from the international community.
I welcome the continued strong leadership of the Arab League as well as the UN Secretary
General and others in the international community who are striving to end the violence in
Syria. The UN General Assembly is due to discuss the situation and receive a briefing from
High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay on 13 February. The current appalling human
rights situation is also likely to be addressed at the forthcoming session of the UN Human
Rights Council later this month. Syria will also figure heavily on the agenda for the EU Foreign
Affairs Council on 27 February which I will attend and where there is likely to be consideration
of how to increase even further the already considerable international pressure on the Assad
regime to change course.
Arab League Ministers met in Cairo on 12 February and decided to increase sanctions against
Syria, to support Syria’s non-violent opposition, and to appoint former Jordanian Foreign Minister
Al-Khatib as Arab League envoy to Syria. The Arab League plan adopted last November
and recently considered by the UN Security Council still represents the most credible basis for
resolving the current crisis. All sides need to desist from further violence and to allow the main
elements of the Arab League plan, including withdrawal of all military forces to barracks,
release of all detainees and the stepping down of President Assad to allow the start of a political
transition, to be implemented. In relation to the Arab League’s proposal for a joint UN-Arab
peace-keeping force to be established, this is a proposal which offers a further opportunity for
the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities in the area of international peace and
security and revisit the current crisis as soon as possible.
Ireland and its EU partners, working with the UN, the Arab League and international partners
such as the US and Turkey, are determined to maintain strong and united political pressure
on the Syrian regime until it ends the violent repression against its own people and begins a
process of transition.
Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
114. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
the steps that have been taken to persuade the British Government to release all files related to
the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7595/12]
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): The question
of obtaining access to information held by the British Government on the Dublin-Monaghan
bombings has been pursued for many years by successive Governments and with the support
of Members on all sides of the Oireachtas. There was a significant and lengthy inquiry by a
Supreme Court Judge, Justice Barron, from 2000 to 2003. In addition a thorough examination
by the Select Committee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and
Women’s Rights resulted in a series of four reports published in November 2004. Following on
from the recommendations of this committee, a full Commission of Investigation was established
in May 2005. This was conducted by Mr. Patrick McEntee, Senior Counsel, and its final
report was published in April 2007. In July 2008, the Dáil passed an all-party motion on the
matter which was transmitted to the House of Commons. I have met with the victims and
survivors of this terrible atrocity and am fully aware of the pain and suffering they have had
to endure. I have raised the matter of access to information related to the bombings with my
ministerial counterparts in the British Government and the Taoiseach has done likewise, most
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