Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I wish to stress that they are able people who operate at the highest levels in the Department's headquarters and overseas. I acknowledge Senator Mooney's good wishes for the Secretary General, who is from the Senator's county.

Senators Bradford and Mooney expressed their concern that diplomatic relations with Burma could confer legitimacy on that country. Quite the opposite obtains, however, because we do not link the establishment of missions with the conferring of legitimacy on regimes. We opened diplomatic relations with Burma in 2004 by dint of our presidency of the EU because it was deemed necessary in order to communicate our deep disdain for the regime's actions. We find the Burmese Government to be reprehensible and one of the dirtiest abusers of human rights in the world. We make no secret of our disapproval at EU and national levels. We are unhappy with the situation in that country and the regime in charge.

I recently had the privilege of meeting with Burma Action Ireland, which supports the Irish Government's position. We also participate in visa restrictions for members of the junta so that they do not have free access to EU countries. The UN has appointed two rapporteurs to Burma but they have been denied access.

The Bill is intended to tidy up the legislation pertaining to this area. A number of Members expressed puzzlement as to why we introduced the Bill but we did so to be in line with best practice. In an ideal world, we would not have to do this at all. Issues pertaining to the legislation were raised in an interesting Supreme Court case but none of the measures under discussion was deemed ultra vires, as Senator McDowell, perhaps mistakenly, believes. The Attorney General advised the Government that the area should be tidied by restricting the power of the Executive to confer privileges and immunities which are not set out in the Vienna Convention. Our policies are being aligned with those of the convention so that there will be no wriggle-room for a Government to dispense fresh immunities. The Attorney General might be criticised for being too proper in ensuring that issues of untrammelled Executive power do not arise.

I welcome Members' interest in the conduct of our foreign relations and thank Senator Bradford and others for their kind comments on our diplomatic service. The people who represent Ireland overseas are a great bunch and it is a privilege to work with them. Most of the Members who have travelled abroad recognise that.