Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I am not one of the people who generally condemns Éamon de Valera or de Valera's Ireland. De Valera was a very gifted man and did many things that were good. It is generally accepted that perhaps a low point was when he called on the German Embassy at the end of the Second World War, when Hitler died. To give de Valera his due, he waited until Hitler was dead. The Chinese regime bestrides the world, and it is when the regime is at its full power, perpetrating its many horrors, that the Irish Government, among other governments, kowtows dramatically to its will.

Ireland's approach to China is craven and sycophantic. It is not the fault of the Minister of State that he is required, by virtue of being in office, to stand up here and give a speech that is remarkable for all the words it does not use. His speech did not enumerate a single instance of horrors being perpetrated on the Uyghur people. The Minister of State encouraged the Seanad to amend Senator McDowell's word-perfect motion so as to avoid even commending the tribunal. I can see the Minister of State's point, or at least there is a case that can be stated, about how the Government might feel constrained and not be able to accept the findings. That does not justify the whip being used on Members of the Seanad or seeking to prevent the Seanad from accepting the findings of this tribunal. There was absolutely no reason for the Government side of the Seanad to propose an amendment to the motion that would avoid even commending the tribunal.

As much as I accept the sincerity of speakers on the Government side, therefore, I must say that by supporting the Government-inspired and required amendment, they are today being an enabler in the silencing of the horrors going on. I would go further to say the Government Members ought to vote with the motion as it stands. They are not the Government but Members in the Seanad and they are entitled to take a view on the authenticity and veracity of the tribunal's work and findings. The words missing from the Minister of State's speech include "horror", "torture", "abuse", "outrage", "condemn", "evil", "shame" and, perhaps most of all, "consequences". The Government is determined to use only language that is satisfactory in the eyes of the Chinese Communist Party and its regime. These are the Government's weasel words, or if one likes, the Government's Uyghur words that we have had to listen to here today.

There are many references that are meant to be complimentary to Senator McDowell. It is indicated at the outset that the engagement on Xinjiang is not anti-China and as we challenge Chinese policy in Xinjiang, we do not seek to undermine Chinese sovereignty. It is like saying that as we kowtow to China's human rights abuses, we do not seek to remove Senator McDowell's right to speak, at least not until China might require us to do so.

Will the Minister of State ever say that China's sovereignty does not extend so far as to remove it from scrutiny and criticism of the human rights abuses in which it is engaging? Will he acknowledge that China is engaging in them? Will he go further than expressing mere "deep concern", hiding behind international institutions and saying we should let them in so they can tell us what is going on? Does he accept that China is perpetrating these horrors? If he does accept it, something more is needed beyond what the Minister of State delivered to us today.I have often used in jest that distortion of the biblical line to the effect that meek shall inherit the earth by adding "If that's all right with you fellas". The latter characterises the Government's communications in respect of China. It does not utter a word without first checking that it will not offend the Chinese regime. As a result, it presents us with a highly and unacceptably sanitised version of reality.

I am glad to hear that there will be engagement with the head of the World Uyghur Congress. However, I expect the Government to use its access to the media to bring that gentleman and his entourage to the forefront during the days on which he might be in Ireland in order that his case will be fully heard. The Government could at least be an enabler in the context the message of pain and suffering and the plea for help that are coming from the Uyghur people. The Chinese Government, make no mistake, will be absolutely delighted that there is no free vote for Government Senators here today. That suits its playbook very well indeed.

I will make one final point. The Government is not completely dishonest about its true motivations because the Minister of State referred to the international trading framework. The Government is hiding its motivations, as it were, in plain sight like a purloined red letter.