Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

While we have strong positive feelings about the new economic partnership for Africa we have expressed deep concern about its peer review process of how countries conduct themselves in matters of governance and proper government. The NEPAD initiative will not work unless something is done about Mugabe and the situation in Zimbabwe. I would love to pour more hope into the situation but unfortunately I cannot.

We regularly and often raise the human rights situation in China in the context of our bilateral ministerial visits. The European Union shows its strength by having an established structure for human rights dialogue with China, the next round of which will be held in Vienna in May. The issues Deputy Boyle mentioned, including Falun Gong, are regularly raised with the Chinese authorities in that dialogue. We and other countries express deep concern about that.

Two members of Falun Gong, one of whom lives in my constituency, came to my clinic on Monday night to express their concern.

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