Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action currently being taken by the Government through membership of European and global institutions such as the UN 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. [13941/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland and our EU partners apply a range of sanctions and restrictive measures to Burma, referred to as the EU Common Position. These measures, first introduced in April 2004, reflect our concerns about the political and human rights situation in the country, the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees, and restrictions placed on the operation of international organisations and NGOs. In view of the current political situation in Burma, and the lack of progress on democracy and human rights, Ireland supports the retention of these measures. The EU will reconsider the Common Position in light of genuine and substantial improvement in the political and human rights situation in Burma.

Ireland and the EU continue to raise the issue of the situation in Burma in all relevant fora, and to work closely with partners to effectively engage international organisations in addressing the situation in that country. The EU has supported action by the International Labour Office (ILO) to address reports of widespread and systematic forced labour practices, including child labour, and 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 ILO and the Government of Burma on 26 February to seek to enable victims of forced labour to seek redress, and urge the Burmese Government to ensure the full implementation of this agreement.

The EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nuremberg 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 Nuremberg 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. I welcome ASEAN's continued efforts to encourage reform and reconciliation in Burma.

With EU partners, I strongly support the use of the UN Secretary General's good offices to bring about peaceful political change in Burma. 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 inclu With EU partners, I strongly support the use of the UN Secretary General's good offices to bring about peaceful political change in Burma. 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.

Clearly, other UN bodies should continue to monitor the situation in Burma, and I would see real value in the Human Rights Council (HRC) examining the situation in Burma at one of its sessions this year.

Finally, Irish Aid also supports human rights and democratisation in Burma through its Civil Society Fund and Multi-Annual Programme Scheme. From 2003 to 2005, Irish Aid has allocated Trócaire funding of €1,123,307 in support of its programme to strengthen civil society in Burma and in support of Burmese refugees in Thailand. 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.