Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Craughwell, I too, once again, call for a debate on our policy on China. I remain disappointed by the approach of the Department of Foreign Affairs in regard to the Richard O'Halloran case. It is clear there has been no progress made. It is now a matter of urgency on a whole range of issues, including the genocide against the Uyghur, the treatment of the Tibetan minority and what has been happening in Hong Kong. We need to have that debate on China.

I also want to raise a question of abuse of power closer to home, that is, what has been happening in Poland.It is very clear that the overwhelming majority of Poles support European Union membership. The Polish community, which is now our largest ethnic community, has enriched and contributed enormously to Irish society and, indeed, the European Union is enhanced by Poland's participation. What we have seen in recent years through the Law and Justice Party is a deterioration in the rule of law. Any modern democracy has to function on the basis of checks on power. We value enormously the independence of our Judiciary but what has now happened in Poland is that there is a politically appointed constitutional tribunal at the behest of the government that is seeking to undermine the core pillars of the European Union. We have seen how the Polish Government has treated minorities, including the LGBT minority, and this is a crucial question about the values of the European Union.

This House needs to send a message of solidarity to the Polish people. Polish people have a long history of rebelling and standing up against authoritarianism and authoritarian regimes. I ask that, on behalf of this House, the Cathaoirleach write to the Polish ambassador expressing our concerns and that we have a debate on the questions of the rule of law within the European Union and European values.