Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the motion and will use the last minute and half or so of the slot to thank my colleague and friend, Senator McDowell, for setting out the terms of the motion, which are very clear. A number of independent sources have documented the abuses in China well in recent years, including The Guardian. I acknowledge that. There is also Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Forbes and the Council of Europe.

I will make two simple requests of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I would like him to publicly express concern about the way Christians are being mistreated under the Chinese authorities' new regulations for religious affairs, including crosses being removed, churches being raided and closed and pastors and spiritual leaders being arrested.I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to raise the matter with the Chinese ambassador to Ireland. I do not mean over a cup of Chinese tea but that the Minister would call the ambassador to Iveagh House to clearly express the views that we will express here this afternoon. That is meaningful parliamentary engagement. This is not just a conversation in this room. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, to take the messages from today to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and that the Minister respectfully requests that the Chinese ambassador come to Iveagh House to express our concerns.