Ireland will press for a tougher stance on Burma at an EU policy discussion next month, according to the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Speaking at the Humbert Summer School in Ballina, Co Mayo, Ms Liz O'Donnell highlighted human rights as an area in which Ireland should adopt a more assertive role.
"In Burma, unacceptable and gross violations of human rights require the strongest possible international response," she said.
"The Irish Government fully supports the existing EU measures in force against SLORC [the State Law and Order Restoration Council] and we will actively support additional measures at the next discussion of the EU position on Burma in September."
Ms O'Donnell also argued for a more vigorous international response to the famine in North Korea. "Ireland has already given over £600,000 in emergency assistance. We will continue to follow the situation closely to see if further humanitarian assistance is required."
Membership of the European Union had changed the shape of Irish relations with the wider world. "But it does not mean we do not have a distinctive role of our own to play, or that we should not express strongly-held convictions, whether within the Union itself or at the United Nations or elsewhere," she said.
Ireland had close relations with the United States, and close ties with many developing countries in Africa and elsewhere. "I believe small countries such as Ireland can make a real difference in asserting the values of solidarity and justice in the world, and in seeking to strengthen the role of international institutions in responding to these needs. If changes are needed in these institutions, Ireland should speak out and say this.
"We need a solidarity that regards it as unacceptable to have a system of global apartheid in which developed countries become richer and least-developed countries remain trapped in poverty. We need a solidarity that regards violation of human rights or the repression of democracy, wherever this happens, as unacceptable and requiring international censure.
"We need a solidarity that combats unacceptable levels of poverty; that seeks to prevent eruption of conflicts before CNN rushes to report riots or starvation; that regards the resources of the planet as the shared inheritance of each human being, rich or poor, whether living in New York or Paris, Lesotho or Western Samoa.
"As Minister of State with special responsibility for human rights, I want to see Ireland play a strong and active role in the protection of human rights around the world. Sometimes this may hurt our interests in the short term, but to be an active friend to the rights of people needing our support is, ultimately, the best foundation for advancing international peace and good order.
"Respecting human rights is not about abstract goals or eloquent speeches, neither is it simply a cheque-writing exercise. It is about doing things in politics which respect the dignity and worth of each human being.
"I want to see common challenges facing the entire international community responded to in a concerted way: on the environment, migration, food, security, health epidemics, drugs," Ms O'Donnell said.