Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is particularly important that we are aware of, and restate, our membership of the UN Security Council and the importance of that. It is in light of that membership that the engagements take place, which the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been engaging in. It is through constructive engagement that we find solutions to many of the problems that face us. Senator Mullen seems to be advocating that you should never talk to anyone with whom you disagree. Such opportunities are of equal importance in allowing the frank discussion around issues of disagreement and for sincerely held views to be directly raised and pursued.

The Ministers agreed on many things, but there were several questions which Ireland and China did not agree on, as I said in my opening contribution, such as on a whole host of global issues, including climate change, the pandemic, and humanitarian challenges in Syria, Ethiopia and Yemen. It is not possible to develop effective responses without including the government that represents nearly one fifth of humanity, that has the second largest economy in the world and is a permanent member of the Security Council, which we currently have the privilege of being a member of. To that end, engagement with China is now, and will remain, necessary if we are to make meaningful progress on these issues.