John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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52. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any steps can be taken to ensure that the upcoming census in Burma, which is being part funded by the EU, at the end of March 2014 can be based on a census form that includes options for displaying the wide ethnic diversity in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12287/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The upcoming census in Myanmar/Burma will be conducted between 30 March and 10 April. It will be the first nation-wide population count in more than 30 years and will be key to the nation's future development, including the forthcoming elections. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has provided technical and financial support to the census preparations over the past 18 months, in partnership with the Ministry of Immigration and Population of Myanmar, to ensure that the census is fully in line with international standards, including how to proceed with the issue of ethnicity. UNFPA has stated that it has received assurances from the Myanmar Government that international norms and standards will be upheld in the carrying out of the census. This will include ensuring respondents have the opportunity during data collection to self-identify their ethnicity, either from the list of 135 official ethnicities, or by describing their own ethnicity. This includes those that wish to identify with mixed-ethnicity.

While the reform process in Myanmar/Burma has been moving in the right direction, and key members of the Government of Myanmar/Burma have expressed their commitment to the path of democracy, Ireland together with our EU partners recognise that Myanmar/Burma still faces complex challenges, including in the areas of human rights and democratisation, economic development, peace and reconciliation. The complexities of ethnic conflict cannot be overstated and the difficulties which exist in this regard in Myanmar are manifold. Ireland, together with our international partners, will continue to urge the Government to address this issue.

At the EU level, the Comprehensive Framework for EU policy and support to Myanmar/Burma, was adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council in July 2013. This urged the Government of Myanmar to pursue and implement durable solutions to the underlying causes of the tensions in Rakhine State and said that solutions for longer-term community reintegration should be pursued, including through the census in 2014.

The EU has consistently called on the Government of Myanmar to address the underlying causes of inter-communal violence and to guarantee respect for human rights and the rule of law. The EU has specifically called on the Government of Myanmar to address the status and welfare needs of the Rohingya people and to work to prevent any form of violent extremism. The EU has also urged Myanmar to permit the establishment of a country office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Currently, the EU is providing around €70 million to assist the people of Rakhine state. A large share of this assistance is to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of the region.

The EU-Myanmar Taskforce announced at its first meeting in Myanmar in November 2013 that in the coming years (2014-2020), Myanmar is expected to be one of the leading beneficiaries of EU development co-operation in Asia, and will receive around EUR90 million per annum. Since 2007, over €7 million has been provided by Irish Aid to NGOs and Irish missionaries for both long-term development and emergency and recovery responses in Myanmar. In December 2013, the Tánaiste announced an additional programme of funding worth €500,000. Ireland will continue to monitor developments both bilaterally and multilaterally, including at the Human Rights Council.