Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Acting Chairperson did a very good job in intervening. To be fair, in his own right Senator Mullen would be justified in standing up and lambasting some of us if we did what he did.

This is a very important motion. The world stands at a crossroads. This week, The New York Timeshad a very interesting article on China, Taiwan and the growing closeness between Europe and the Taiwanese people. This is about being sensitive to the needs of all of us in the world in the context of upholding human rights. I support the motion, conscious that the Government has a One China policy. We must look at the totality of the relationships around the world, in this case with China and Taiwan. There needs to be a real debate about this with regard to upholding freedoms and human rights. All of us in the House predominantly agree with the tenet of what we are trying to achieve with regard to engagement and diplomatic relations. The motion includes calling for the Taipei office being reopened. Senator Mullen is right. Our issue is not with the Chinese people; it is with the empire, if I can so describe it.

To go back to The New York Times, the article speaks of Europe's willingness to strengthen relations despite Beijing's threats. That is no way to engage in foreign policy. Senator Ward, soon to be Deputy Ward, made a very passionate and eloquent speech-----