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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 4

Written Answers. - Human Rights Violations in China.

Liam Fitzgerald

Ceist:

68 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has studied a submission by Amnesty International in 1996 which stated their concerns and made recommendations regarding human rights violations in China; whether he has decided on a programme of international action in response to these claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11419/96]

I have received a communication from the Oireachtas liaison officer of Amnesty International, to which I have replied, in relation to human rights violations in China. I understand that a similar communication has been addressed to individual Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The majority of the recommendations put forward for action vis-à-vis the Chinese authorities by Amnesty International concern human rights issues which the Government and the European Union have already taken up with China. I had extensive discussions on human rights issues with Vice-Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Qian Qichen, during my visit to China in September 1994 and, more recently, on the occasion of Mr. Qian's visit to Ireland in October 1995. The Government will continue to raise concerns regarding human rights violations, including the specific recommendations of Amnesty International, at every available opportunity.

These issues will also continue to be addressed within the EU Troika/China Human Rights' Dialogue at expert level which has been in existence since the beginning of 1995.

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