Government's ‘disgust’ at Russia’s bombing in Syria

The Government has made clear its “absolute disgust and abhorrence” of Russia’s bombing in Syria, the Taoiseach has said.

The Dáil is now expected to issue a united statement on “war crimes” currently being carried out in Syria later in the week.

Speaking in the Dáil, Enda Kenny said there have been “catastrophic deaths of men, women and children in particular, with the bombing of hospitals” in Aleppo.

He said Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan had called in the Russian ambassador and “left him with no uncertain terms as to how this country feels about the human catastrophe that is unfolding and has unfolded in Syria and particularly Aleppo”.

“The minister made perfectly clear our absolute disgust at and abhorrence of the bombing of a United Nations humanitarian convoy going into Aleppo to relieve people who have had neither food nor water for some time,” said Mr Kenny.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin asked that the Dáil “unite in condemnation” of the continued bombing in Aleppo through statements or an agreed motion on what he said is a “potential genocide” that “is escalating by the day”. This was supported by Labour’s Brendan Howlin and AAA-PBP’s Richard Boyd-Barrett.

“The question for Ireland is whether we will stand up for the people of Aleppo and the rest of Syria in the face of these war crimes,” said Mr Martin. “Will we say to Russia in particular that the barbarism that it is directly facilitating is unacceptable?”

Mr Kenny said the issue could be discussed tomorrow when Mr Flanagan comes before the Dáil.

Charlie Flanagan and Enda Kenny

Separately, Mr Kenny said Government is committed to supporting the postal service and has made “every attempt” to provide new facilities and initiatives for post offices.

He said work is now ongoing to introduce a basic bank account for post offices adding the Government is “completely focused on wanting to provide a range of opportunities for post offices so they can continue as an essential part of every community”.

Public sector pay was raised in the Dáil by both Mr Howlin and Bríd Smith of the AAA-PBP grouping, who claimed the Government’s strategy on pay is “beginning to unravel” .

However, the Taoiseach said Government would not be implementing legislation to give members of An Garda Síochána the right to strike.

When questioned, Mr Kenny confirmed there are “no plans” to withdraw Lariam from the range of anti-malaria medications available to the defence forces.

It comes after PDForra, the organisation representing most members of the Defence Forces, said Irish soldiers are being put at risk of developing depression, confusion, extreme fear, and hallucinations because the Government still insists on giving them an anti-malaria drug on peacekeeping missions to Africa, against the advice of top UN medical experts.

Mr Kenny told the Dáil the use of medicines are constantly kept under review.

“When a person is sensitive to Lariam, they are generally not deployed for service in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.