Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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229. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made at international level to address the issue of a person (details supplied); if efforts can or will be made by the international community to challenge their imprisonment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4179/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that are being taken by the international community to show solidarity with a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4180/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.

As we approach the one year anniversary of the military coup, Ireland is increasingly concerned by the deteriorating security, human rights, and humanitarian situation in Myanmar. The coup is a reversal of the progress made towards democracy in Myanmar that has taken years to establish.

On 6 December 2021 State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced by a military court; an additional sentence was imposed on 10 January 2022. It is possible that there will be further sentences in the coming period in line with the charges put forward by the military regime. Ireland has joined statements by the European Union and the United Nations Security Council expressing deep concern at the sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and others. The court proceedings appear to be an attempt to exclude Aung San Suu Kyi and democratically elected leaders from future political engagement and the inclusive dialogue process called for by ASEAN. Ireland condemns these politically motivated verdicts and believes they represent another step towards the dismantling of the rule of law and a violation of human rights in Myanmar.

Ireland is actively engaged on the crisis in Myanmar in the context of our role on the United Nations Security Council and through the EU. The situation in Myanmar has been considered seven times by the Security Council since the coup, most recently on 8 November 2021. The Council has condemned the use of violence by the military, and called for the release of all those detained. The united voice of the Security Council on the situation in Myanmar is welcome, sending a clear message to the Myanmar military.

Ireland has also voiced its concern at four sessions of the Human Rights Council since February 2021 and has consistently supported international efforts towards ensuring accountability and justice, including through the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Ireland supports the EU's adoption of the sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup and the economic entities that sustain them and endorses the strong and comprehensive approach set out in the Council Conclusions adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on February 22 2021. We will continue to work with partners to consider further actions to restore the democratic path in Myanmar.