Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, for standing in for the Tánaiste to conclude this debate. The Tánaiste set out very clearly what I think is the correct foreign policy for Ireland, which is our support for multilateralism where it is based very strongly on human rights. I agree with Senator McDowell that some of those who are most loudly calling for the expulsion of ambassadors from this country are remarkably silent when it comes to the totalitarian Chinese Communist Party. The Tánaiste is correct that that is not the way we should conduct diplomacy, although we need to have very frank conversations. I note the Tánaiste criticised me when I said that human rights sometimes appeared as an afterthought. Until fairly recently, when press releases came out from the Government about meetings with senior Chinese personnel, the last line was always “Oh, and human rights were mentioned.” Therefore, I welcome that human rights were very much front and centre at the meetings that took place last week. Given the developments in Geneva today, I compliment our ambassador on the statement that he made, which very much calls out China's appalling human rights record.

There were a number of specific asks in the debate around continuing to raise specific cases, for example, what is happening with the Uyghur communities in Xinjiang, what is happening in Tibet, our concerns around Taiwan and, in particular, what is happening in Hong Kong at present. The case of Sebastien Lai and the cases of many others who have stood up for Hong Kong need to be highlighted at a bilateral and multilateral level. The European Union also needs to take a stronger stance on some of these issues. I ask that this be brought back to Government level and that, very clearly, it continue to be voiced in the weeks and months ahead, particularly while Jimmy Lai’s trial is continuing.

It is very important that this House, as it has done on a number of issues, continues to hold debates on human rights around the world. That is not to say that Ireland is perfect as a country, and there is always more that we can do for our own citizens and to learn from our history. However, that does not mean that we should be silent or should in some way minimise our voice when it comes to human rights in other parts of the world. As Senator McDowell and others have said, we are now seeing an increasingly authoritarian Chinese Communist Party. I would argue that Xi Jinping has assumed dictatorial powers and he is effectively president for life. Within that, his oppression of minorities is of deep concern. I think this House speaks as one and expresses those concerns. I get Senator Mullen’s point about not using the word “condemn”, but in the contributions from Senator Ward and me in this House, at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, IPAC, level and in other areas, and, in fairness to the Tánaiste, in his remarks, it is very clear that we condemn those human rights abuses and that they will continue to be raised in international fora.