Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the diplomatic relations Ireland has with Burma; when these were established; if there are none, if Ireland ever had diplomatic relations with Burma; the way these were established; when they ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14716/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of our EU Presidency, diplomatic relations with Burma were established on 10 February 2004 through the issue of a Joint Communiqué in the names of the two Governments. However, due to the deterioration in the political situation which followed shortly afterwards, including the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, it was decided not to proceed with an exchange of non-resident Ambassadors. The Government subsequently made it clear to the Burmese authorities that diplomatic relations will not be advanced, including and in particular the accreditation of Ambassadors, until a number of developments in that country have taken place, in particular the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the diplomatic relations Ireland has with China; when these were established; if there are none, if Ireland ever had diplomatic relations with China; the way these were established; when they ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14717/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on 22 June 1979 through a Joint Communiqué signed by the Permanent Representatives of Ireland and China to the United Nations in New York. Resident Ambassadors were duly accredited in 1980.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the diplomatic relations Ireland has with Sudan; when these were established; if there are none, if Ireland ever had diplomatic relations with Sudan; the way these were established; when they ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14718/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland established diplomatic relations with Sudan in March 1984. The accreditations are on a non-resident basis.

The Irish Ambassador in Cairo is accredited to Khartoum and the Sudanese Ambassador in London is accredited to Dublin. Ireland also has an Honorary Consul in Khartoum who took up appointment in December 2005. There have been some informal reports recently that Sudan intends opening an Embassy in Ireland, as part of an expansion of its diplomatic network, but no formal communication to this effect has been received from the Sudanese authorities.

Irish Aid had operated a bilateral development programme in Sudan, with a small Programme Office in Khartoum, which began in 1975. However, this programme was formally concluded in 1998.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the diplomatic relations Ireland has with Colombia; when these were established; if there are none, if Ireland ever had diplomatic relations with Colombia; the way these were established; when they ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14719/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland established diplomatic relations with Colombia through the exchange of notes on 10 November 1999. Since that date, the Ambassador of Ireland resident in Mexico City has been accredited to Colombia on a non-resident basis, while the Ambassador of Colombia in London has been accredited to Ireland. Ireland is also represented by an Honorary Consul in Bogotá.