Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I am very grateful both for his statement on this matter and, indeed, the strong stance of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs on human rights and continuing to raise it and making sure that Ireland's voice is heard in the case of Jimmy Lai and so many others who are being unlawfully detained. That is critical.

We must also bear in mind that more than 5,000 Irish citizens are currently estimated to be in Hong Kong. They could be subject to the requirements of the national security law. As we are increasingly seeing, even the simple act of liking particular social media posts may be viewed as seditious, something that we take for granted in Ireland in liking posts or protesting. In those circumstances it is deeply concerning that people are being hauled before the courts and imprisoned.

I welcome the statement made by the Minister of State here. I also welcome the fact that the Department of Foreign Affairs is monitoring this case. I hope the Government will continue to call out the unjust imprisonment of Jimmy Lai and so many others.