Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The Minister of State said that Ireland initiated contact in 2004 with the Burmese authorities. What was the extent of that contact? Would he now agree that on reflection it was a very unwise decision because it gave legitimacy to a regime that clearly does not have the support of the people and has been involved in many human rights violations and atrocities, particularly in recent months?

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