Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
100. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the work he and his officials are undertaking to urge China to end the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong and release imprisoned practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33010/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government closely follows reports of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. Since 2013, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers on a regular basis, most recently on 6 July 2017. As the Deputy will be aware, the Chinese Government denies accusations of human rights abuses against those who practice Falun Gong.
Human rights issues are discussed regularly with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings, including rights related to freedom of religion or belief. Human rights issues were raised during the visit of the Tánaiste to China in March 2018 where he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which was established in 1995, is the primary formal framework through which Ireland and other EU member states share with China our experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and to urge China to take clear steps to improve the human rights situation. The latest session of this dialogue took place on 9-10 July 2018, and provided the EU with the opportunity to have a detailed exchange of views on a wide range of human rights issues with China. The EU raised a number of issues relating to the rights of persons belonging to minorities, freedom of religion and belief, freedom of expression and association, arbitrary detention, and the death penalty.
The Irish Government, together with our EU partners, will continue to address human rights issues with China, in frequent and regular dialogue, through our contacts in both Dublin and Beijing, and through the relevant multilateral channels.
