Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome my very good friend and party colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy. I know from internal meetings and my membership of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence that the Minister of State is very proactive on all issues and has made a real impact in his Ministry. It is a great pleasure to have him here today.

I will pick up where my good friend and colleague, Senator Martin, finished and put the record straight on our involvement at UN level. That is not to object to his full thesis that we should use the UN and our presidency of the Security Council to the maximum degree. Ireland joined a cross-regional statement on human rights in China at the third committee of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, 21 October. The statement calls on China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also expressed concern about fundamental freedoms, political pluralism and democratic rights in Hong Kong arising from the introduction of the national security law. In line with the European Council's conclusions, Ireland suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong in October 2020.

Senator Martin is fundamentally correct that we should of course use every international body to unambiguously pursue human rights, specifically in China in this instance. Ireland has great credentials and moral authority in this area and is highly respected. This matter should be pursued irrespective of the forum, but especially in the UN. I wanted to put on record that we are doing what we can. Unfortunately, we can make moral arguments and pass motions but the degree to which we can achieve their implementation is somewhat fettered. Nevertheless, we must do our best and keep at it, as we are doing.

Ireland has a positive trading relationship with China valued at €24 billion. There are 6,000 Irish citizens in Hong Kong, 1,000 in Shanghai and 600 in Beijing. These are important relationships, which we would like to see grow. In acknowledging our positive relationship, I will make a few points on human rights. First, the basic thesis stands that the authoritarian regime should not become more authoritarian and should adopt a human rights approach. The sabre-rattling and threats to Taiwan cannot be supported under any circumstances. We have Taiwanese representatives of very high quality here in Dublin. The Oireachtas must unambiguously state that Taiwan must have self-government and its own administration and has a right to self-determination in the sense that it has it currently. There should also be no threat to the existence of Taiwan or its future. Ireland's trade with Taiwan is worth €1 billion, which is not insignificant. The Taiwanese question is a major one. In recent times, there has been an implicit threat to Taiwan which is creating insecurity. We must unambiguously oppose that.

Tragically, the question of the Uighur Muslims is on everyone's lips and we are giving it much thought. What we know is horrific and what we do not know is scary. We are aware of the abuses, including the use of electronic devices, and the concentration and re-education camps. We know that much but what do we not know? How comparable are this case and events in the Second World War? It is a human tragedy, observers should be let in and the issue should be dealt with.

The question of Hong Kong arises. The basic law, the abuses in Hong Kong and way in which normal existence in Hong Kong has been upset over the years are a retrograde step. Given what has happened in Hong Kong in recent years, there is a fear that the problem will extend to Taiwan next.

We must to be unambiguous in our pursuit of human rights, both at UN and EU level. Beyond that, we cannot take unilateral action that would have any impact. Unfortunately, I missed some of the earlier contributions as I had to be elsewhere. I have no doubt that one or more previous speakers have already suggested or will suggest that we break off all trading relationships and all forms of contact with China, commercial and otherwise. I do not support that thesis but I support the thesis that we should be unambiguous and make our position clear in the EU, during our presidency of the Security Council, and also the Council of Europe, even if, strictly-speaking, it is not a relevant forum as it is focused on Europe.I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity and congratulate the movers of this important motion.