Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 4: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Chinese human rights abuses have been raised by him with the Chinese authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17430/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Taoiseach has just returned to Ireland after his first official visit to China. During the visit, the Taoiseach and Premier Wen Jiabao released a joint statement establishing a strategic partnership for mutually beneficial co-operation between Ireland and China. This new strategic partnership will facilitate practical, effective and result-oriented co-operation so as to further develop the bilateral relationship. It covers several important sectors, including education, tourism, agriculture and food as well as science and technology. The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and underlined the leading role of such exchanges for the development of bilateral relations.

The strategic partnership, which is a major step forward in bilateral relations, provides for a strengthened political and economic dialogue between China and Ireland and promotes closer consultation and co-operation between my Department and its Chinese counterpart. The strategic partnership reaffirms the commitment of Ireland and China to respecting and safeguarding human rights. As indicated in the joint statement, Ireland and China will conduct exchanges of expertise in governance and rule of law on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

We hope that, as China develops, it will be possible for further progress to be made in ensuring that individual rights are enjoyed by all of China's citizens. We will continue to address these matters in a frequent and regular dialogue, including the EU human rights dialogue and also bilaterally, in a spirit of mutual respect and co-operation.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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It can be accepted on all sides that Fianna Fáil, in government, was involved over a number of years in working to develop effective relations between this country and the People's Republic of China, not least because of its significance as the second most significant economy in the world. In that context, I commend the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste on the work they have been doing. The adoption of the strategic partnership arrangement is a positive development.

As relations between our two nations are confirmed and as friendships are established, we find ourselves in a stronger position to be able to engage on the issue of human rights. While we are all conscious of the enormous importance of the economic relationships between us, would the Minister agree that we cannot just focus on these and that there are real and worrying issues of concern with regard to the human rights situation there? Does he accept Amnesty International's estimate that there currently half a million people in China enduring punitive detention without charge and that there are millions unable to access the legal system to vindicate their rights? Will the Minister give us some sense of how we will develop this parallel relationship of economic co-operation and at the same time have respectful engagement on the human rights issues?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The way in which our relations with China will develop will be in line with the strategic partnership that has been agreed during the course of the Taoiseach's recent visit to China. This is a significant development in our relationship and it sets down the framework for the contacts between the two countries on a range of political, economic and human dimension issues. Part and parcel of that agreement is a joint commitment with regard to respect for human rights and an understanding that there will be a continuing dialogue between China and Ireland on human rights issues, democracy and rule of law. That will be at a bilateral level.

In line with this, there is also dialogue between the European Union and China on human rights issues. I have had the opportunity of meeting a number of representatives of the Chinese Government here. The most significant of these meetings was the recent visit of the Vice-President of China. At all of these meetings, human rights issues are raised and discussed. There are also opportunities and arrangements whereby human rights issues, particularly individual cases, are raised at official level.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the Minister's response, did officials from his Department brief the Taoiseach on human rights issues before his departure for China? Will the Minister indicate which specific human rights issues were raised by the Taoiseach in the course of his four-day visit?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I can confirm that my Department briefed the Taoiseach on human rights issues as part of the Taoiseach's brief for going to China. With respect to the approach taken to human rights issues, the principal political agreement concluded between the Irish Government and China was the strategic partnership agreement. It is significant and important that human rights form part of that agreement and are specifically identified as one of the issues which will form and be a regular part of the discussion between Ireland and China. Obviously these discussions will be followed up and there will be a number of other ministerial visits this year. The Minister for Agriculture and Food will visit China next month and I intend to visit China later in the year as part of our trade work. In all of our discussions, the opportunity will be taken to raise and pursue the human rights issue.