Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, further to his statement that he would be very pleased if the UN Security Council was to consider the situation of Burma in reply to a parliamentary question of 10 November 2005, if the Government intends to urge such a consideration; if the Government supports the core findings of the report, Threat to the Peace: A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma, commissioned by the former Czech President Vaclav Havel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39278/05]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to Ireland's diplomatic relationship with Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39204/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest contacts that the Government has made with the military regime in Burma with regard to the continuing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39203/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 101 and 127 together.

Ireland has a clear and strong position on Burma. Together with our EU partners we condemn the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and deplore the lack of progress towards democracy. Our goal remains an end to human rights violations there, the release and restoration of liberty to Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners and the realisation of democracy, peace and prosperity for the long suffering people of Burma.

As Deputy Sherlock recalls, I said in reply to a parliamentary question on 10 November, on the report, Threat to the Peace: A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma, commissioned by former President Havel and Archbishop Tutu, that I would be very pleased if the UN Security Council were to consider the question of Burma. Since my reply we have heard that the Security Council is expected to hear a briefing on the situation in Burma from the secretariat shortly. I welcome this as a positive step.

The Secretary General of the UN, Mr Kofi Annan, made a statement on 12 December commending the call by ASEAN — Association of Southeast Asia Nations — made during its 11th summit in Kuala Lumpur, for Burma to "expedite" both its political reform efforts and its release of political detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The Secretary General welcomed ASEAN's announcement that it would send Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar as an ASEAN envoy to Burma "to learn first-hand whether Burma is making steps toward democracy". He commended Burma for its decision to accept the envoy. This is a potentially significant development and should be welcomed.

I have been deeply concerned about the recent reports that the Burmese régime has extended the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi. I made a statement on Monday, 24 October, to mark the tenth anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention under house arrest in which I called, inter alia, for her release and the release of all other political prisoners. In my statement on behalf of Ireland to the 60th session of the UN General Assembly in September, I referred to the continuing denial of human rights and democracy in Burma. I stated that this was most acutely symbolised by the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and that her ordeal was not forgotten by the people of Ireland.

While we have not had any recent direct contacts with the Burmese régime, we joined EU partners in issuing a statement on 28 November expressing deep concern about the reports that Aung San Suu Kyi's detention had been extended. The statement called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners and said that this would help facilitate an open and genuine dialogue involving all ethnic and political groups in Burma in the interests of national reconciliation and the resolution of Burma's long standing political and humanitarian problems.

An EU-Burma informal Troika meeting at official level was held in London on 30 November in the margins of the Asia-Europe senior officials meeting, at which my Department was represented. The EU side recalled our concern at the situation in Burma and the EU's desire to see real progress in the road map towards democracy. The EU statement calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, was recalled.

Ireland announced the establishment of diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis with Burma on 13 February 2004. However, given that the progress which had been anticipated in 2004, most notably the meeting of an open and unhindered national convention and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, did not materialise, the Government decided to put on hold the exchange of ambassadors. Any decision to proceed with an exchange of ambassadors with Burma will have to await positive and significant moves by the Burmese Government.