Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42971/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s relationship with China is broad and wide-ranging, covering political, trade, education, and people to people links. We share strong links in a range of areas, though there are nevertheless a number of differences in our relationship. In this context, Ireland frequently raises points of concern with the Chinese Government directly and in appropriate multilateral fora.

 At a bilateral level, Ireland and our partners in the EU discuss human rights concerns during political and official contacts with the Chinese authorities. In April this year, the EU also raised human rights concerns with China at both the annual EU-China Summit and the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. Ireland and the EU also regularly raise human rights concerns in multilateral fora, in particular at the Human Rights Council. With regard to Hong Kong, Ireland and the EU have been consistent in our support for the One Country, Two Systems principle. As I have noted previously in this House, Ireland supports freedom of assembly and expression, and calls on all sides to refrain from violence. We have consistently encouraged engagement in a broad-based and inclusive dialogue.

Ireland will continue to raise issues of concern with the Chinese authorities as they arise. This does not however preclude us from developing our trade relations and from encouraging our educational institutions to engage in collaboration with Chinese institutions. I can assure the Deputy that in the pursuit of our bilateral relations, I and my Department take the full breadth of Ireland's values and interests into account to ensure that the best outcomes for Ireland are achieved.