Ireland is to provide €200,000 in funding towards the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria.

Speaking in New York, where he's about to take part in a series of meetings about the Syrian crisis, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the provision "reflects Ireland's long-standing opposition to the use of weapons of mass destruction".

“The process of eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons must be quick, credible and comprehensive in order to ensure that their use can never again be contemplated. This is critical for the Syrian people, who have suffered so much, and will improve the security of the Middle East region as a whole."

The money will be channelled through the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), of which Ireland is a member. It's in addition to almost €11 million Ireland has already given to humanitarian assistance in Syria.

Earlier this month the US and Russia agreed on a plan to destroy all of Syria's chemical weapons. While Syrian president Bashar al-Assad complied, he warned it would take a year and cost at least €715 million.

Syria still maintains that rebels were behind the August 21st sarin gas attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta that killed more than 1,400 people despite a UN report which France, Britain and the US claims implicated the Syrian government. 

The Tánaiste is in New York for the United Nations’ General Assembly where he will meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and several other foreign ministers throughout the week.