Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I took the Order of Business the day Senator McDowell raised this issue before Christmas. I saw the motion on the Order Paper and suggested in good faith that we have a fuller debate because I had not seen light of or, indeed, read the report, and I was sure other Members had not seen it either.I thank Senator McDowell for providing a copy of the report.

I am not clear from the report when or where the tribunal met. I am sure it was in secret and it certainly was not done under the eyes of the People's Republic of China or with its consent. We could not expect that and it is not the way that country operates. The report is factual and corroborates the international media coverage as advocated here by many Members. I regret that the Cabinet did not see fit to accept the motion. I am not sure if there was a full debate, although I appreciate the Minister of State was probably not at the Cabinet meeting unless he was invited in for this matter. There was a memo to the Cabinet and these things happen; I am not sure what level of debate took place.