Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

This particular question pertains to Burma and the question asked was whether it was my view that sanctions might be lifted by the European Union in respect of Burma. My reply was that sanctions have been renewed against Burma. A small exception or derogation has been made regarding the sanctions that apply to visas, travel restrictions and so on in respect of the Burmese Foreign Minister and a small number of Ministers who were not part of the previous military regime with a view to opening up dialogue with the Burmese regime to emphasise the importance of human rights, respect for democracy and the role that Aung Sang Suu Kyi and others who have been involved in civil society have played in that country. That is the position taken by Ireland and the European Union.

I am quite happy to respond to questions on Cuba or anywhere else if Members wish to table them. However, when a question is tabled on sanctions in respect of individual country and I give the answer, thereby confirming that the European Union has continued its actions, it is not the most constructive of approaches to state, "Fine, you have done Burma, now why do you not do everywhere else?".

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