Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
701. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action that can be taken by him through the European Union and the United Nations Security Council to impose immediate targeted sanctions on aviation fuel and for a global arms embargo against the military junta in Myanmar be put in place. [42178/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully endorse the strong and comprehensive European Union approach to the coup in Myanmar set out in the 22 February 2021 Council Conclusions (Foreign Affairs Council) and the associated adoption of sanctions.
The EU has adopted four sanctions packages on Myanmar since the coup in February 2021, most recently on 21 February 2022. This latter sanctions package was the first to include entities related to the oil and gas sector.
Pre-existing EU restrictive measures also remain in place. These include an embargo on arms and equipment that can be used for internal repression; an export ban on dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police; export restrictions on equipment for monitoring communications that could be used for internal repression; and a prohibition on military training for, and military cooperation with, the Tatmadaw.
Ireland was also a member of the core group of nations who proposed the June 2021 United Nations General Assembly resolution which called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar. This non-binding resolution was supported by 119 countries.
Sanctions remain necessary due to the continuing grave situation in Myanmar, the intensifying human rights violations, and abuse of international law, including international human rights law. My Department actively monitors developments in Myanmar and consults regularly with our partners on the United Nations Security Council and in the European Union. Ireland welcomes consideration of further measures that would be effective in working to restore the democratic path in Myanmar without exacerbating the humanitarian situation or negatively affecting developmental gains.
