The EU must do more to resolve international conflicts – Noone

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, and the Party’s Seanad Spokesperson on European Affairs, Catherine Noone, has said that the EU must do more to resolve international conflicts. Senator Noone was speaking in the Seanad today (Thursday) which was reconvened to discuss the situations in Gaza and Ukraine.

“As European Affairs spokesperson in the Seanad, I believe it’s important to acknowledge that Ireland, as a small country, has a stronger voice when we speak as part of the EU. However the EU also has to do more in relation to these conflicts, as too does the United Nations.

“Watching the violence in the Middle East unfold on the news and in our newspapers day after day has been harrowing and the people of Ireland are rightly repelled by images of civilian suffering and, in particular, of helpless children suffering. I know that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, has condemned the violence and death in this Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the strongest possible terms and I commend him for his firm stance on this matter which gives voice to the feelings of the Irish people at large.

“As a small country, we have a stronger voice when we speak as part of a Union of 28 Member States and, as Fine Gael’s European Affairs Spokesperson, I am passionate about our role in Europe.

“It is my belief that the EU has a stronger role to play in resolving the conflict in the Middle East. In my view, the European Union, as a peaceful union of democratic states, has a huge amount of credibility which would give it a powerful voice in any negotiations. I know that the EU is actively supporting US and UN efforts to broker a peace deal but I would urge Minister Flanagan to use his position to ensure a greater role for the EU and I hope that this will be something we see in the weeks ahead.”