Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he has made to promote human rights in Burma and in particular, to bring Burma to the agenda of the UN Security Council; if he will ban Irish investment in Burma; if he will provide humanitarian aid to the internally displaced people in Burma and financial aid to Burmese human rights organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31134/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In my statement on behalf of Ireland to the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly on 26 September, I referred to the particularly grave human rights situation in Burma. I called, once again, on the Burmese régime to move towards democracy and to release all political prisoners, in particular Aung San Suu Kyi. At the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit held in Helsinki earlier in September, the Taoiseach also raised the situation in Burma and called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

These statements by the Taoiseach and myself are consistent with the strong position on Burma which Ireland takes on all possible occasions, including in the European Union framework and at the United Nations. Together with our EU partners, we avail of all opportunities to call for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi, to condemn the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms and deplore the lack of progress towards democracy in Burma.

The visit by UN Under-Secretary-General (UN USG) Gambari to Burma from 18-20 May was the first high-level visit to that country by a UN representative in more than two years. I welcome the fact that he was able to meet with the most senior Burmese leaders as well as with Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of her party, the National League for Democracy, during the visit. It is vitally important that the Burmese government allow the UN to play a role in promoting common ground between the government and the National League for Democracy so that the National Convention, when it resumes its work, can proceed in a more inclusive way.

The situation in Burma was most recently discussed at the EU General Affairs and External Council Meeting in Luxembourg on 12 June. On that occasion the possibility of the situation in Burma coming before the UN Security Council was discussed. Subsequently, the UN Security Council decided to include Burma on its agenda. On foot of this, UNSG Gambari briefed the Security Council last Friday, 29 September. This was the first time that the UN Security Council met to discuss Burma as a formal item on its agenda. This is a welcome development. In this regard also, I welcome the news that UN USG Gambari is due to pay a return visit to Burma. Ireland and our EU partners apply a range of sanctions and restrictive measures against Burma, referred to as the EU Common Position, which had been due to expire on 30 April but which has been renewed for a further year. In the absence of any significant progress in Burma, Ireland strongly supported the renewal. The Council Regulation giving effect to the Common Position imposes, inter alia, a ban on the provision of technical assistance and on the provision of finance relating to military activities; a ban on the sale, supply, transfer or export of equipment that might be used for internal repression in Burma, and, on the provision of technical assistance or finance relating to such equipment. A Statutory Instrument provides for the implementation of this Regulation in Ireland and incorporates penalties for infringements of its provisions. In addition, the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms-related material to Burma is prohibited under the EU Common Position. Accordingly, no licences to issue such materials to Burma have been issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The question of a general ban on investment in Burma has not arisen in the EU context. I am not aware, however, of any Irish investment in Burma. Furthermore, the current level of trade is very low. The implementation of a ban on Irish investment in Burma, or in any other country, would primarily be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.

Irish Aid supports human rights and democratisation in Burma through its Civil Society Fund and Multi-Annual Programme Scheme. In 2005, under Irish Aid's Multi Annual Programme Scheme, Trócaire received funding of over €500,000 in support of its programme to strengthen civil society in Burma and in support of Burmese refugees in Thailand. In 2006, this funding increased to over €650,000. In addition, €200,000 in humanitarian assistance was provided this year in support of the work of the Thai-Burma Border Consortium, which provides long term humanitarian assistance to some half a million Burmese refugees and internally displaced persons in the border area. Irish Aid is also providing over €290,000 to the Voluntary Service Overseas organisation for a three year programme promoting democratisation, human rights and reconciliation among five ethnic groups on the Burma/Thailand border.

Irish Aid also provided funding in 2005 for Burma Action Ireland to publish two reports to document and raise awareness of human rights violations in Burma. These reports were launched in Iveagh House by Minister of State Conor Lenihan T.D., on 28 June.

I will continue to raise concerns about Burma on all possible occasions and to call on the Burmese government to assume its responsibilities towards its people and to allow the fullest possible UN involvement in a genuine process of democratisation and reconciliation.