Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 9: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the lifting of sanctions by the EU on the Burmese Government is appropriate following comments made by Aung San Suu Kyi that sanctions must remain in place until something has changed in Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8820/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Sanctions against Burma were renewed for a further 12 months at the April session of the Foreign Affairs Council. Ireland was to the fore in the preparation of this decision, arguing for the extension of restrictive measures by the European Union. In taking this decision, Ministers were very much aware of the views of Aung San Suu Kyi. By renewing sanctions, the European Union has maintained the prohibition on the sale, supply, transfer or export of equipment and technology to enterprises in Burma engaged in logging and timber processing, mining and processing of specified natural resources, semi-precious and precious stones. The purchase, import or transport of products from these industries into the European Union is also prohibited.

Under the restrictive measures, the visa ban and asset freeze remain in place against a specified list of individuals with links to the regime, including all members of the new Burmese Government who were appointed following the deeply flawed parliamentary elections last year. However, to allow for the pursuit of constructive engagement with the new Government, Ministers agreed to suspend imposition of the restrictive measures in the specific cases of the Burmese Foreign Minister and those new Government appointees who do not have military backgrounds. In renewing sanctions, Ministers reiterated their commitment to the people of Burma and demanded the release of all political prisoners and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma.

While Ireland is a strong supporter of maintaining sanctions until genuine progress on human rights and political reform takes place, we do not view sanctions as an end in themselves. The European Union stands ready to respond positively to genuine progress towards democratisation and respect for human rights and this must include full respect for the rights of all of Burma's ethnic minorities.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I am sure the Tánaiste and all Members present welcome the release of Aung Sang Suu Kyi after many years under house arrest. While I welcome the Tánaiste's response, to clarify, is he aware of plans among his colleagues at European Union level to visit Burma to engage directly with Aung Sang Suu Kyi or her political party? Might it be envisaged that an invitation be extended to Mme Suu Kyi to visit Europe or Ireland, given the many admirers she has both here and throughout Europe?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As part of the effort to engage constructively with the new Burmese Government, Ministers agreed to lift the prohibition on high-level visits to Burma. However, it was agreed that any such visits must be carefully co-ordinated in Brussels with defined terms of reference. Delegations visiting Burma must also be allowed to meet Burmese opposition and civil society leaders, including Aung Sang Suu Kyi. While I have no plans at present to visit Burma, I will keep the matter under review.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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I am mindful that Aung Sang Suu Kyi has the freedom of Dublin. As Deputy Ó Fearghaíl observed, she is a lady who is hugely respected worldwide as a Nobel peace prize winner and an inspirational person. Almost single-handedly, she has drawn international attention to the reprehensible actions of that regime. My difficulty is that while the European Union has opened up the door to Burma and has bilateral agreements with Israel, in contrast it has a common agreement arrangement whereby all trade with Cuba basically is blocked. Any international observer observing what is taking place in Cuba will note it has one of the best health systems in the world, one of the greatest education systems in the world and the highest level of literacy in the world under UNESCO-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Deputy have a question?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Tánaiste challenge the double standards of the European Union in respect of its trade agreements, which clearly fall in behind NATO's agenda rather than what is right?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I welcome the Tánaiste's support and commitment for sanctions against the Burmese dictatorship and in support of Aung Sang Suu Kyi. As has been noted, she is an inspirational figure and her campaigning and that of her supporters have brought pressure to bear on Burma to an extent. However, I refer to the issue of consistency and double standards in another regard. Should the Government, within the European Union, not call for sanctions equally as much against any despotic dictatorship that systematically denies democratic and civil rights to its citizens or ruthlessly suppresses political opposition? Should it not call specifically for sanctions and be a voice calling loudly within the European Union for sanctions just like those imposed on Burma? In this regard, I refer in particular to demanding an end to arms sales by Western and European governments to regimes such as those in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Libya when Gadaffi was the West's friend and so on.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Allow the Tánaiste to reply to these questions.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I refer to hundreds of billions in arms sales. Should Ireland not demand clearly and unequivocally, within the European Union, sanctions against such regimes, as well as an end to arms sales?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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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?".

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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My point concerned the double standards.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There are no double standards.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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My point pertained to the double standards of the European Union.