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IRELAND HAS BECOME the twentieth nation to sign up to an international cross-party alliance of lawmakers who are trying to create a coordinated response to counter China on global trade, security and human rights.
Three senators and one TD have joined the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in a bid to secure a tougher stance on China from the Irish government.
The IPAC works to reform democratic countries’ approach to China and boasts a membership of over 200 legislators from a range of political parties in North America, Europe, and Australia.
The alliance was formed in June 2020 with a stated mission of standing up against “challenges posed by the present conduct and future ambitions of the People’s Republic of China”. Some well-known members include US Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez, former leader of the British Conservative Party Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, and former Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt MEP.
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward will both act as IPAC co-chairs to ensure Ireland “plays its part in holding the Chinese government to account” alongside other Irish members TD Michael McNamara and Senator Michael McDowell.
“As democratically elected legislators we have a responsibility to uphold the cause of democracy not only at home but also abroad. The Chinese government’s crushing of democracy in Hong Kong is an unacceptable breach of international law and a clear challenge to the international rules-based order,” Byrne said.
“Ireland must play its part in holding the Chinese government to account for these abuses. We will only succeed if we stand together, recognising that this challenge is too important to be divided by national or partisan differences.”
Earlier this month Byrne and Ward led calls in the Seanad for the government to offer safe refuge to those fleeing the political crackdown in Hong Kong.
Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong after protests in 2019 that started over an extradition bill and expanded to include demands for greater democracy in the former British colony. The law outlaws secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces to intervene in Hong Kong’s affairs. It has constricted free speech in the city, and democracy activists see it as a way to suppress dissent.
‘Much closer to home’
Ireland’s membership comes as Dublin man Richard O’Halloran’s two-year-long detainment in Shanghai continues, despite no allegations of wrongdoing being levelled against him.
He travelled to China in February 2019 to resolve an ongoing commercial and legal issue involving the Chinese owner of the firm he works for – Dublin-based aircraft leasing company China International Aviation Leasing Service.
McDowell says the Chinese Communist Party represents a “clear challenge” to the stability of the international rules-based order, and O’Halloran’s “unlawful and protracted” detention shows that this threat is “much closer to home than we like to think”.
“Ireland can no longer ignore this reality, we must work with our European and international partners to stand against these actions,” he said, accusing the government of having a “timid” approach to China.
“Ireland must stand resolutely by the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan as they come under increasing pressure from Beijing,” he said.
McDowell’s motion to debate the detention of O’Halloran in the Seanad was postponed for two weeks on 15 February after Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney contacted him saying negotiations with Chinese authorities were at a “delicate stage” and that a debate on the matter might “set the process back”.
McDowell told TheJournal.ie that at the request of Minister Coveney senators, will make statements on O’Halloran’s detention in the Seanad on Monday 1 March rather than debating the motion.
He said he will postpone the debate for a further two weeks as he is “very confident” that a satisfactory package is being put together for the Chinese authorities to secure O’Halloran’s release.
McDowell said he believes O’Halloran’s case could have been dealt with in six months rather than two years “if the Department had drummed up the energy to protest strongly”.
“Your foreign policy can’t just be based on trading considerations,” he added.
Most recently, Coveny asked MEPs Barry Andrews and Seán Kelly to delay tabling a resolution at the March plenary session of the European Parliament condemning O’Halloran’s detainment.
We should do whatever is in the best interest of Mr. O'Halloran and his family. But the #Irish public has every right to expect that they are not alone in the solidarity with their compatriot; the European Parliament has your back. #China https://t.co/XLpprkhk9P
— Reinhard Bütikofer (@bueti) February 25, 2021
As a member of the UN Security Council, Senator Barry Ward says Ireland is in a unique position to show the Chinese government that “abuses of human rights are not the actions of a responsible global power and will not be tolerated by the international community”.
“Our criticism is not of the Chinese people, but of the Chinese government. A deep love and respect for the Chinese people and their culture does not stop us from standing resolutely against the grave human rights abuses committed by the Chinese government in Xinjiang, Tibet and elsewhere,” Ward said.
UN Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet voiced concern yesterday over China’s curtailment of “fundamental rights and civic freedoms… in the name of national security and the Covid-19 response.”
“Activists, lawyers and human rights defenders, as well as some foreign nationals, face arbitrary criminal charges, detention or unfair trials,” she said.
Bachelet also raised the situation in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region, where rights groups believe at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps.
After initially denying the camps existed, Beijing later defended them as vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism.
Bachelet said her office was continuing to “assess the alleged patterns of human rights violations, including reports of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and sexual violence in institutions, coercive labour practices, and erosion of social and cultural rights.”
The Netherlands became the latest nation – and first European nation – to declare that Beijing’s actions towards minority groups in Xinjiang amounted to genocide.
The Dutch parliament passed the motion on Thursday that “genocide is underway in China against the Uighur minority,” joining countries including Canada and the United States in applying the label.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit back at the motion, accusing Dutch lawmakers of using Xinjiang as an excuse to “deliberately smear China and crudely interfere in China’s internal affairs.”
“The facts show that there has never been any ‘genocide’ in Xinjiang,” Wang told reporters at a regular briefing.
He said he hoped the Netherlands would “immediately stop its wrongdoings and take concrete actions to safeguard the overall situation of bilateral relations.”
- Additional reporting from AFP
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Dear Mr. Kenny,
You and your disciples have lied your way into Government, lied your way through Government and lied your way with the Seanad debacle.
I look at my kids, still school going thank God and I am wondering what continent to gear them for because there is nothing only pain being left for them here.
As you and your disciples bicker, lie, rob and strip this great nation of it’s greatest asset, it’s young, we have to deal with the consequences of “your” actions on a daily basis.
You need to shit or get off the pot Kenny. You can be at the announcement of jobs which is great news but when it’s jobs that will be created sometime in the distant future it’s get a bit annoying Mr. especially when we are dealing with real problems in health, banks and education in the present that need action now!
You promise reform, action on the banks, jobs etc day after day but nothing is happening.
Ask yourself why are retired teachers back in schools teaching? Why are HSE employees getting “paid” during career breaks? Why are public servants on paid layoff for years while their employment gets investigated? Why would one department like on Bord Pleanalla not let the HSE planners know that there’s no hope of getting planning before letting them spend all that money on design? Look at the state of the country, listen to what is really required, stop the ridiculous waste in every department and get our country operating properly, PLEASE!
Yours
A Proud Irish Citizen.
Well said martin
Nicely put..
Well said Martin!
Well said Martin … He is so blind he thinks he is doing a good job … I like you have kids in school .. I have one girl working and 3 in school and everyday I worry about the future … After all all Enda wants is to keep the Germans happy and feck the people..
Well said Sir.
very well put. Martin
Personally I am one of those wishing to give the government a bit of a black eye over their mistreatment of the Irish people
The only referendum we may have actually needed was the one that never materialised…the bank debt. This government does not have a mandate to act as they are toward this country. But soon enda will get his thirty pieces of silver and off to europe. Good riddens.
If the people of Ireland want real reform and it is long overdue – then direct democracy is the most effective option.
Direct democracy was enshrined in Ireland’s original constitution, but these provisions were later removed by a Fianna Fail government.
The government will have no option but to submit to the will of the electorate under direct democracy and underperforming/corrupt politicians can be removed from office.
The system has served Switzerland well and Iceland has opted for it since their crisis.
Wouldn’t it wonderful if our President hands over P45 to Enda Kenny in front of camera?
Our president does as Enda bids him.
Who would replace him? Michael, Gerry, Eamonn …. not many options really.
I certainly won’t be holding my breath. I can’t see them doing it. Reckon they’ll keep it as an election promise
The second step to political reform is getting FG out of power
I agree but replace them with who?
@Niall, I know what you mean. I have no faith in any if the political parties in the Dail.
Some of the independents have a brain and a conscience but no power under the almost autocratic whip system.
A new political party such as direct democracy is badly needed but their manifesto needs to be more than just that, it needs to be a legally binding contract to the Irish people because they’ve been screwed enough by false promises.
Replace them with people who have to answer for their actions who sign an oath to carry out the work they promised to do when elected or they have to resign , oh im dreaming again
Niall, What difference does it make WHO replaces them? All we need is for them to get to hell out. Who replaces them is another issue.
Elect FF if you want a reformed political system and a return to economic growth.
Seanie…. Back in your box along with your creep leader who gave is the hse moneypit
@sean
You seem to think ff have the answers to all our problems…yet they caused them
FF – F off!
I would like to ask if enda kenny knows the true meaning of on your bike son??
Some cynics claim that the government will do nothing about the Seanad now, but they are ignoring the reality that 93 per cent of the people oppose the status quo,”
When the govt give a curse about what the people wanted ?? . Did the people want Austerity – some fools did – and they got it .
Anyway – following on Rabbiittes admission that the govt gets its instructions from Troika – we do not need a Dail or Senate – they are luxuries and illusions of democracy . We cannot afford them – and in fact they now serve no purpose other that to rob us – and give the money to their banking friends .
People voted NO for the right reasons, not your interpretation of right Larry.
First time I never bothered to vote, I’ve actually zero confidence in the Irish political system at the moment. We need a party for the people
you could not be more right KYLE FG FF LAB do not represent the people because if they did we would not be in the mess we are in ,so i say hold them accountable
After the last time the ballots were counted, they represented the people pretty well. The time to hold them accountable is at general, local, and European elections. I wish people paid attention to the question being asked before giving an answer. We’d have a great little democracy if people voted on the question at hand, and saved other answers for when those questions are asked.
When people talk about Seanad reform, they talk about things like accountability, and it being some sort of watchdog against unjust legislation coming from the Dáil.
But think about it for a moment. This is a government whose preferred option is to completely remove even the possibility of those things happening, by abolishing the Seanad.
Reform? Unlikely. They’re not going to give any other institution any teeth to prevent them doing as they wish. Probably no government would do that. So I think that any reform is unlikely, and if there is any, it will be a PR stunt designed to give the impression of actually doing something while doing absolutely nothing of consequence.
Please give the seanad articles a break …. The vote was NO.
Reform now that is funny, only when we are rid of all the political family’s and corrupt cartel that have been in this country for far to long otherwise it wont happen not now, not ever .
@Tom
well said
Slash numbers..do we really need 166
TDs should only be allowed serve 2 terms /8yrs max
cap pay at 50k
slash pensions pro rata
ministers only receive 1 pension
pay the same expenses as the paye sector
have a referendum to deal with the insane pensions as they presently stand
if we did that or similar it might help to end parish pump politics and the crazy situation where the likes of enda can gorge on taxpayers for 34 years after”inheriting” daddy,s seat
people wake up ..demand change.
this will never happen.we voted to keep the senate that is costing pot lots of money to run what did we do vote to keep it. this was in our hands.
Reform my arse. The country has spoken and it has chosen to keep Fidelma Healy Eames & co in their cushy roles doing SFA.
Larry,
The US Senate and the Irish Seanád have almost nothing in common and I trust you know this better than me.
Citizens of the US would be right to be appalled at the idea of abolishing it as it has an important executive function in US democracy.
The Irish Seanád is an elitist outdated overpaid non-answerable institution which should have been abolished.
That chance is now gone. There will be no reform as it is not on any Government plan and never was.
The idea of reform came out of nowhere only in the last 10 days when the Senators were running scared that the gravy train was leaving.
You missed your chance folks and a decision to keep the Seanád has been made by approx 20% of the total voting population ! Democracy is bizarre sometimes.
I just hope you all voted ‘no’ for the right reasons not just your own reasons.
Last ten days? Have you been living under a rock? People have been waffling on about reforming the seanad for the last four years!
If it had passed it would have been passed by 20% of the population as well. Political reformation has been demanded for years but we have politicians who want to maintain the status quo. Enda has opened Pandora’s box. Unless it happens, NONE of our parties will have any credibility left
Perhaps I am wrong.
Can you cite any references or sources ?
Wouldnt it be nice to do away with all political parties and have a dail of independents who elect a leader like the papal conclave.no party politics just putting the people and the country first
So a bunch of people who vote for every tax cut, and every spending rise. But what happens when the money runs out? No-one thanked McSharry in 1987 but at least his unpopular actions at the time saved the country from bankruptcy. Now, I’m off to have a shower having praised a FFer!
I always wondered about the ‘watchdog that never barked’ analogy.
If you have a barking watchdog you have a problem.
(It’s a bit like the fire engines at the airport. Nice to see but you never want them to be put to work!)
This was an order from this bogus european union ,that the Irish stood up and spoke loud is the beginning of Irelands withdrawl from this monster EU.The next step is to arrest these traiter politicians past and present who have betrayed our country and deliberatly bankrupted our country,the debt was called in by the mob in brussels ,they think they own Ireland .My simple message to brussels,germany and these politicians who would sell their mothers to slavery is fcuk off were out .To the bankers,developers ,planners,senior servants and all who betrayed our country your next .GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH ,WE ARE NOT FOR SALE
Now can we abolish this unknown ,unelected, convention to dismantle our constitution .Who selected them ,what party they belong to,who selects the proposals,and last but not least who are they
Reform is the only option left now. Which is good news the question is do we have the leaders and if not the leaders in the dail to drive reform do we have the TD’s to do it?
Didn’t see the reforum option on the ballot paper
Add the 48.2% who voted yes to the significant chunk of the no vote who voted for mainly anti-government reasons and you don’t get a mandate for Seanad reform
We need to leave the EU its nothing but keeping us down. People making laws that no nothing about the our country’s policies or history. Its never gonna work.
have your say