P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the allegations (details supplied) that human organs are being harvested for sale from executed members of the Fallun Gong and other minority groups in China; If he has raised this issue with his European Partners at EU Ministerial Council level; the result of these discussions; his position on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20860/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As has been reported in this House on many previous occasions, and most recently on 5 May, human rights issues in China, including issues relating to Falun Gong, are regularly discussed on a bilateral basis with the Chinese Government, both in Beijing and in Dublin. The Government continues to stress at such meetings the great importance attached by Ireland to human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and to urge the Chinese authorities to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Such detailed discussion on human rights issues took place at political consultations between Ireland and China in Beijing on 8 April.

Human rights issues are also a constant and important point of dialogue for the European Union with the Chinese authorities, through the framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. This broad-ranging dialogue has allowed the EU to engage with China on issues such as freedom of expression, the death penalty, the independence of the judiciary, prison conditions, freedom of religion and minority rights. The last session of the Dialogue took place on 20 November last, also in Beijing. A date for the next session has not yet been set.

The Government remains deeply concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China and questions in this regard - including specific cases - are raised with the Chinese authorities, both within the context of our own discussions with them and through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue.

We have taken very seriously allegations which have been made in the past claiming that live organs have been harvested from Falun Gong practitioners in detention. Extensive inquiries on this issue were made by my Department within the EU and UN frameworks in 2006/7, as well as through our Embassy in Beijing and with a variety of human rights organisations. Inquiries were also addressed to the Chinese authorities. At that time, we failed to identify sufficient reliable and independent evidence to substantiate the allegations, but the matter has been kept under review.

The most recent allegations to which the Deputy refers relate to the alleged execution of prisoners, including Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, Christians and Uighurs and the harvesting of their organs for sale. These are allegations of the most serious kind and I have instructed officials of my Department to try to establish whether or not they can be substantiated.

Developing the relationship between the EU and China is an important priority for the European Union and China is regularly discussed at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. Although human rights issues feature in such discussions in general terms, it is not customary to consider individual cases in that context. In the circumstances, I have instructed my Department to raise the issue at EU level, to liaise with EU Member States in investigating the allegations, and to seek a response from the Chinese authorities.