Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the information (details supplied) is accurate regarding China. [18044/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As has been reported in this House on many previous occasions, human rights issues in China, including issues relating to Falun Gong, are regularly discussed on a bilateral basis with the Chinese Government, both in Beijing and in Dublin. The Government continues to stress at such meetings the great importance attached by Ireland to human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and to urge the Chinese authorities to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Most recently, a detailed discussion on human rights issues took place at political consultations between Ireland and China in Beijing on 8 April last.

Human rights issues also continue to be a constant and important point of dialogue with the Chinese authorities for the European Union, through the framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. This broad-ranging dialogue has allowed the EU to engage with China on issues such as freedom of expression, the death penalty, the independence of the judiciary, prison conditions, freedom of religion and minority rights. The last session of the Dialogue took place on 20 November last, also in Beijing. A date for the next session has not yet been set.

The Government remains deeply concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China and questions in this regard - including specific cases - are raised with the Chinese authorities both within the context of our own discussions with them and through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. We have taken very seriously allegations which have been made in the past claiming that live organs have been harvested from Falun Gong practitioners in detention. Extensive enquiries on this issue were made by my Department within the EU and UN frameworks in 2006/7, as well as through our Embassy in Beijing and with a variety of human rights organisations. Enquiries were also addressed to the Chinese authorities. At that time, we failed to identify sufficient reliable and independent evidence to substantiate the allegations, but the matter has been kept under review.

The most recent allegations to which the Deputy refers relate to the alleged execution of prisoners, including Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, Christians and Uighurs and the harvesting of their organs for sale. These are allegations of the most serious kind and I have instructed officials in my Department to try to establish whether or not they can be substantiated.