Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----on which we should all reflect in the fullness of time. For far too long, there has been a hands-off policy and a policy of keeping Europe and Taiwan at arm's length by European governments. Thankfully, that is changing. Senator Conway spoke about President Biden and relations with Taiwan. There comes a time in the affairs of men and women where we must stand up. We have made reference to Beijing and the Winter Olympics. The corporate world is turning a blind eye to abuses of human rights. Minorities are being suppressed. This is a glorious opportunity. Today on the Order of Business, I spoke about the need for sporting bodies in athletics, football, rugby or whatever sport, to have a conversation not only about the Olympics in Beijing 2022 but about how long we can stand idly by when human rights are being abused and people are being killed and tortured.

Let us look at the issue of Peng Shuai, the tennis player. Where is she today? She mysteriously appeared last week in a video and has gone again today. How long will we as parliamentarians say that the One China policy and economic ties are far more important than human rights and the killing, torture and oppression of people? This is not about us flying the flag for Taiwan. It is about us flying a flag around the world for human rights and for upholding the rights of people who are minorities. There are some who come in and lecture us. There are men and women throughout the world today who are afraid to be gay and who are oppressed by their own states. We cannot stand idly by and say it is different because they are gay, God help us. The world will start to change and we can, through this motion and through the Government, lead the way.

The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, has travelled the world. He is challenging how we deal with HIV and AIDS in Africa and other parts of the world. I note today is World AIDS Day. I thank him for the work he has been doing quietly with NGOs and organisations throughout the world challenging regimes and looking for regime change. There is more that unites us than divides us in the context of this debate. I want us to leave here supportive of the need to uphold human rights and not just to say it is a flag of convenience. We must bring real change. As I said this morning, sport has led in the past with regard to apartheid and civil rights not just in South Africa but also in the United States and throughout the world.The struggles we have today can continue to be advanced by this motion and by us uniting. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, for being here and I thank Senator Michael McDowell and the Independent Group for the debate.