Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the ongoing efforts at EU level to influence the situation in Burma, including the position of Aung San Suu Kyi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21869/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the imprisonment of Aug San Suu Kyi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21848/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position as it pertains in Burma. [21847/09]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken arising from the latest behaviour of the military dictatorship in Burma towards the lawful leader Aung San Suu Kyi; and the further steps he will take on the matter. [21690/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on this situation in Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21986/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 27, 29, 54 and 139 together.

The Minister deplores the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma and esteemed Nobel Peace laureate, her imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison in Rangoon and the laying of charges and institution of court proceedings against her.

In a statement on 14 May, the Minister pointed out that her arrest represented the latest chapter in an ongoing effort to silence this courageous pro-democracy advocate and opposition leader. He noted also that her arrest and incarceration were particularly distressing given the very real concerns regarding her state of health. The Minister made clear his view that Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma must be released and a process of dialogue and reconciliation initiated without delay.

The EU Presidency also issued a Declaration on 14 May, deeply regretting the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and strongly urging the Burmese authorities to release her. The Declaration called on the regime to engage in an inclusive process of national reconciliation, which is essential for setting Burma on a genuine path to stability and prosperity, and to initiate a new phase in the development of the country.

At the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting on 22 April, EU Foreign Ministers agreed the renewal of the Common Position on restrictive measures on Burma for an additional year. Ministers also agreed to keep open the possibility of revising the Common Position in the light of developments on the ground. In this context, the situation in Burma was discussed again at the GAERC on 18 May and Ministers agreed that, following the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, the EU should look at new steps, including additional restrictive measures, which could be taken against the Burmese regime.

On 24 May, the EU-Troika met with the Burmese Minister of Foreign Affairs in the margin of the ASEM Ministerial meeting in Hanoi and conveyed the EU's demands for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners directly to him.

There was also an opportunity at the ASEM Ministerial itself for Ireland and our EU partners to convey to the representatives of many of Burma's neighbours our very strong concerns and views about Aung San Suu Kyi and the situation in Burma more generally. The Chair's statement issued at the end of the meeting reflected these concerns. It was noteworthy that some of the Asian countries present made clear their own concerns about the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi, in line with the strong statement made by Thailand in its role as ASEAN Chair on 19 May.

The EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, which began yesterday, will offer further opportunities in this respect. We will be making clear to Burma's neighbours, individually and collectively, how important it is that they use their influence to put pressure on the Burmese regime, including in relation to the position of Aung San Suu Kyi, other political prisoners, the need for dialogue and the elections scheduled for 2010.

The Minister has repeatedly made clear the Government's view that the forthcoming elections in Burma will have no credibility unless all political prisoners are released unconditionally and a political process is initiated with the support of the United Nations on the basis of an inclusive, long-term dialogue in which the opposition and ethnic groups can participate fully. The Minister fully supports the role of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, and the personal engagement of the UN Secretary-General himself. The Minister discussed the situation with the Secretary-General when they met in New York on 8 May and very much hopes that Secretary-General will be able to visit Burma shortly, as he plans, and to make concrete progress on the political and humanitarian agenda there.

The Minister welcomes the UN Security Council statement of 22 May expressing concern at the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and calling for her release. This action by the Council is an important development, particularly given the difficulties in securing consensus on matters relating to Burma which have existed in the past. The Minister hopes the Council will remain seized of the issue and take further action as is necessary.

We will continue to work in the EU and UN frameworks and with the countries of the region to do all possible to advance our objectives in relation to Burma.