Government attacked over Burma regime move

OPPOSITION politicians have attacked the Government for establishing diplomatic relations with the Myanmar regime without any debate in the Dáil.

The Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement confirming the move a full 24 hours after it was revealed on the military dictatorship's state sanctioned news service. Myanmar, it said, was "desirous of establishing friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation" with Ireland.

Irish supporters of the Burmese pro-democracy movement said they found out as they monitored the website last Thursday. Burma Action Ireland then contacted the department for confirmation.