Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3970/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in previous PQ replies, most recently on 23 November 2006, I am aware of allegations regarding the harvesting of live organs from Falun Gong practitioners, including as set out in a recent report by two Canadian human rights experts, Mr. David Matas and Mr. David Kilgour, on behalf of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of the Falun Gong in China (CIPFG). I view these allegations seriously and enquiries on this issue have been made by the Department of Foreign Affairs within the EU and UN frameworks, as well as through our Embassy in Beijing. A senior official from the Department also met with Mr. David Kilgour during his visit to Dublin last November to discuss the findings of the report prepared by him and Mr. Matas. To date, no concrete evidence has been revealed to substantiate the allegations contained in this report. However, the matter is being kept under review by my officials and enquiries by the EU and other organisations are continuing. I also understand that Mr. Kilgour and Mr. Matas intend to present further material arising from their work.

Without prejudice to the outcome of the above enquiries, Ireland and the EU remain concerned about the situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China. This remains, within our wider concerns about human rights in China, a constant and important point of dialogue with the Chinese authorities at both bilateral and European Union levels.