Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Burma; the progress of the Burma authorities in seeking accreditation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10294/07]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the security situation in Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10414/07]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the objections by the EU to a US suggestion to push for speedy action on Burma at the United Nations Human Rights Council; the Government's position on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10389/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 146 and 165 together.

It remains the Government's position that no steps will be taken to develop diplomatic relations with Burma until Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest. I remain deeply concerned that she has spent the past three years in detention (and 11 years in total) without charge and would, once again, urge the Burmese government to restore fully her freedom and civil liberties.

The general situation in Burma remains very serious and deeply troubling, with few encouraging signs. Serious restrictions remain on freedom of speech, press, assembly, association and movement. There are also restrictions on domestic human rights organisations and there is a failure to cooperate with international human rights institutions. In terms of specific developments, I have real concerns regarding reports of serious human rights violations by the military in operations in ethnic minority regions. These have included forcible relocation and confiscation of land and property, forced recruitment of child soldiers, and trafficking in persons.

A further significant concern has been reports of widespread and systematic forced labour practices, including allegations of child labour for construction of military camps, bunkers, roads and portering of military supplies. This has included the fact that individuals who lodged complaints of forced labour have subsequently been prosecuted and their appeals systematically rejected. I welcome in this context the supplementary understanding agreed between the International Labour Office (ILO) and the Government of Burma on 26 February to seek to enable victims of forced labour to seek redress. I would urge the Burmese Government to ensure the full implementation of this agreement.

At the political level, 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, whose task is to draft a new constitution, can proceed in a more inclusive way. Without broader representation, the usefulness of the National Convention will be very severely limited. This would, of course, be greatly facilitated by the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition political leaders.

I should make clear that there is no basic difference of approach between the EU and the US in raising the issue of Burma at the UN Human Rights Council. However, it is necessary to consider carefully how and when this can effectively be done and this consideration is continuing. For our part, we see real value in the HRC examining at the situation in Burma at one of its sessions this year.

Ireland and the EU continue to raise the issue of the situation in Burma in all relevant fora. The EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nuremburg on 14-15 March provided a further opportunity to raise the issue with our ASEAN partners, and also directly by Minister of State Noel Treacy with the Foreign Minister of Burma/Myanmar in a bilateral discussion. Ministers in Nuremburg encouraged Burma to make greater progress towards national reconciliation as well as to involve constructively all political parties and ethnic groups in an inclusive dialogue. Ministers also called for a lifting of restrictions on political parties and the early release of those under detention.