Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

China has abused its position on Interpol by issuing red notices in respect of dissidents from its own jurisdiction. China uses the Interpol red notice system to catch people such as Uighurs dissidents and people abroad who speak against the regime. China gets these people arrested in other countries through Interpol and then repatriates them by means of extradition. That is an absolute abuse of the system. Unfortunately, Hu Binchen, the nominee of the Chinese Government, was today elected to the executive committee of Interpol. The appointment apparently gives the green light to China to continue to behave in this way . That is absolutely unacceptable.

In 2007, Brian Lenihan, the then Minister for Justice, made an agreement to have an extradition treaty between Ireland and Hong Kong. Last year, the treaty was suspended because of the national security law in Hong Kong. Again, another law that totally compromises the right of freedom of expression and freedom of association in Hong Kong. The time has now come for us to rescind the agreement altogether. Suspension is not enough and we should get rid of it. There should be no question of anybody being extradited from this country to China, Hong Kong or any territory that is ostensibly controlled by China. It is not reasonable. China does not respect the rule of law. Now that China occupies a position on the executive committee of Interpol, we can have no faith that the Chinese are not going to continue to abuse their position as part of Interpol, abuse their might as part of the international community and disregard the ordinary, fundamental rights that we associate with the rule of law and being a human being on this planet.