Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Members are probably not fully aware of or do not fully realise the significance of the visit to Ireland this weekend by the Chinese Vice President, Mr. Xi Jinping. I look forward to meeting him on Monday in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, at the China Investment Forum. Moreover, I hope a bilateral investment agreement will be signed this weekend between our two countries to attract foreign direct investment from China. This mechanism is in place in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France which are benefiting hugely from it. Trade and investment between our two countries does matter. In response to Senator Rónán Mullen, this is the ideal way to build relations on a human rights front also. One achieves nothing unless one is in a relationship-----