Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I join with my colleagues who welcomed the successful visit by the Chinese Vice President. From an economic perspective, it was a very successful visit from which Ireland will benefit. So too will China because business is a two-way road.

I also support my colleagues who expressed the view that we cannot remain silent or ignore the question of human rights abuses in China. Members are aware of the situation in Tibet and some of us have also been in Taiwan, an issue that is not going to go away. We must ensure the question of human rights in China remains on the international radar.

It is not our job to define what the broad spectrum of human rights should be in China. That is a matter for the Chinese people and not simply the Chinese authorities. We in this small country must not be silent on these basic universal human rights such as the right to life and the right to freedom of conscience and religion.

While it is not something I normally do in the House, I must congratulate the Sinn Féin party for making its views known on and highlighting the issue of human rights in China at the weekend. We must not remain silent when obvious difficult matters present themselves to us. Perhaps rather than just speaking of the matter we could try to arrange a debate in the House on international human rights at some stage in the coming weeks. While economics, trade and jobs are of considerable importance, fundamental human rights do matter also.