The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is to meet with fellow EU Foreign Ministers today for talks on Syria.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is also set to join the discussions in Lithuania - where it’s expected he'll outline his country's latest position on the conflict.

Ireland has so far donated almost €11 million Euro to provide food, water, shelter and protection for civilians affected by the Syrian conflict. 

Foreign Affairs Minister, Eamon Gilmore, has said he wants Europe to 'concentrate on the humanitarian help'. 

And when he meets his EU colleagues today there's no doubt that's the point he'll be emphasising.

However the words of the US Secretary of State John Kerry will be perhaps overshadow all other contributions today - he's due to explain where America now stands on the issue.

They are still the only country to have confirmed they're willing to launch a military strike, after the alleged gassing of civilians by the Assad regime last month.

This week's G20 summit of world leaders broke up without agreement and President Vladimir Putin is still insisting Russia will NOT back the US.

Here at home there are also a number of dissenting voices - the Peace and Neutrality Alliance are due to hold a public meeting in Dublin this afternoon, in opposition to military intervention, they can count Ireland's Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Mairéad Maguire, among their speakers.