Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures which are being taken by the Government at an international level and through membership of European and global institutions to promote human rights in Burma and to bring about the release of Aung San Suu Kyi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5906/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland takes a consistently strong position on Burma in its bilateral contacts, in the European Union framework and at the United Nations. With its EU partners, it avails of all opportunities to condemn the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and to deplore the lack of progress towards democracy. Our goal remains an end to human rights violations, 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 I have been deeply concerned about the ongoing detention under house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, I use every available occasion to highlight her plight and to call for her immediate release. On 24 October last, I marked the tenth anniversary of her detention by issuing a statement calling 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 last September, I referred to the continuing denial of human rights and democracy in Burma. I stated that it is most acutely symbolised by the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and that her ordeal was not forgotten by the people of Ireland.

On 28 November last, Ireland joined its EU partners in issuing a statement expressing deep concern about reports that Aung San Suu Kyi's detention had been extended. The statement said that the release of all political prisoners would help to 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 longstanding political and humanitarian problems.

I assure the Deputy that I will continue to raise the issues in question on all possible occasions and to work for real progress in Burma. I am pleased that the UN Security Council held a briefing on the situation in Burma last December. The UN Secretary General is expected to appoint a new special representative on Burma in the near future, to replace Mr. Razali Ismail who resigned at the end of last year. I hope the new special representative and the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Mr. Sergio Pinheiro, will be allowed to visit Burma at an early date to meet all the key players there.

I welcome the fact that the Association of South East Asian Nations recently announced that it would send the Malaysian Foreign Minister as an envoy to Burma. The EU applies a range of sanctions and restrictive measures against Burma, referred to as the EU common position, which is up for renewal in April 2006. In view of the absence of any progress in Burma, Ireland will strongly support the renewal of the measures for a further year.