Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Cuirim fáilte freisin roimh an rún seo a chruthaíonn cé chomh seasmhach atá an tír seo maidir le cearta daonna, saoirse agus dínit an duine. Thaispeánamar cheana gur féidir linn a bheith cumhachtach nuair atáimid sásta ár dtuairimí a nochtadh go hoscailte agus go neamhspleách. Tugann sin dóchas domsa mar tá sé soiléir gach lá go bhfuil daoine sa Teach a seasann chun labhairt ar son na daoine go bhfuil cos ar bolg á dhéanamh orthu. Tá súil agam go leanfaidh an traidisiún sin ar aghaidh. Beidh na daoine atá i gceist agam buíoch amach anseo go ndearnamar amhlaidh.

In welcoming this motion I am particularly conscious of the power of the steadfast individual and the small nation, especially when accompanied by perceived moral authority. There is no doubt that Ireland has that perceived moral authority, which it exercises on many occasions independently and courageously. As a small nation, we have often led the bigger nations on the road to justice, of which there are many instances.

What we are dealing with in Burma is typical of what we have seen from malign military juntas which were not prepared to recognise the rights or democratic will of the people. When the people demand those rights in a peaceful but powerful manner, of which there are many instances throughout the world, they are oppressed and killed. Every effort is made to ensure their cause will be misrepresented, misunderstood and unreported. Burma is a typical example. We need only look at what has happened in that regard. Something that has given me great hope is that from day one our Minister stepped into the breach and in an unequivocal manner demonstrated clearly what the Government expected from Burma and the United Nations. The motion before us is unequivocal. That is important. This has been the position of the Government during the years.

At the time of the unilateral invasion of Iraq — some Members will know this — a few of us put our heads above the parapet and made it clear that we considered the invasion, without the imprimatur of the United Nations, to be unjust and immoral. We continued to make that point here, even at a time when 75% of the American people were satisfied with what was happening. The current position is that less than 30% are now prepared to condone or endorse what has happened in Iraq. We made that point at the time and went out on a limb for no reason other than to give a voice to logic and democracy because it was clear that the invasion represented the wrong step and would leave chaos in its wake, such as we had seen in Vietnam. Many would say we were like dwarfs speaking through a megaphone, which I never believed. I have always believed every word we utter in this House is read by some agency of government, including the Burmese. We should have no doubt about this. I know because I made a comment in the past 12 months recently in a particular case and a renowned judge queried subsequently who I was to have made it. The same is true internationally. It can be taken for granted that somebody, on behalf of the Burmese, is sifting through what we say. Therefore, we should not regard this as an exercise which will lead nowhere.

What is important — I believe another Member touched on this — is that when media interest has lessened in this issue, we should endeavour to keep it alive. That is the only hope for the democratic movement in Burma. A dictatorship such as the one in Burma cannot exist, continue, expand and ignore so many other democratic principles unless it is receiving succour from bigger nations. In every single instance of conflict the vested interests will always be found on the periphery.

China has been mentioned. It is gradually emerging into the light of democracy, for which it should be praised and saluted. The Olympic Games should not be used as a pawn in this game because the games in China will be a watershed in the emergence of that nation emerging into democracy. There is a possibility, however, that Ireland could exert greater influence on China than any other large country because to this day the Chinese remember the support they received from the Government when they sought the United Nations status they now enjoy. I have been to China on several occasions and the name of Frank Aiken has come up on many occasions. When they wanted our vote to secure a seat at the Security Council, they got it. It must be borne in mind that that is the way powers work and Ireland, undoubtedly, will be in a position, diplomatically and otherwise, to exert an influence.

The same is true of India because one only has to consider the number of leaders in India, both military and political, who were educated by the Irish Christian Brothers. Recently, a group in India were celebrating the centenary of the Christian Brothers in India which was attended by the chief-of-staff and the Deputy Prime Minister. The same is also true of South Korea where the Columban Fathers continue to enjoy a status today because of their education system. That is the road to travel. We must use that influence and call in that to which we are entitled. We have one major asset in that regard. We never colonised any other country. All we ever did was send peacekeeping forces to help in areas experiencing difficulties. We sent missionaries to help where the provision of education services was required. Many of our emigrants were the architects of the new legislatures in those developing democracies. If we bear all of this in mind, we have huge power which we should never underestimate.

Nothing has given me greater satisfaction in the House than to see a joint motion being tabled and Members not being partisan or scoring political points on intrinsic issues such as human rights. That will not be lost on observers outside the House. We often talk about expanding its role. I genuinely hope several more cross-party issues will come before the House on which we will not be looking for kudos but rather trying to demonstrate solidarity with those who will be vulnerable at a given time. Burma is one example. There will be many others.