Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne is urging for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, to call in the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland to explain why Irish journalist Yvonne Murray, who reports for RTÉ News and Current Affairs from China, has been forced to leave the country.
Senator Byrne commented, “As a matter of urgency, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney must call in the Ambassador of China to Ireland to explain this issue. The continuing deterioration in press freedom and human rights in China is deeply concerning.
“There is an urgent need for an Oireachtas debate on the deteriorating human rights behaviour in China. My Oireachtas colleagues and I are deeply concerned about genocide against the Uighur people, the repression of democracy and free press in Hong Kong and ongoing abuses against the Tibetan people and other minorities.
“In light of these human rights abuses there needs to be a serious review of the European-China trade deal.”
Senator Byrne has also called for the government to support demands to move next year’s Winter Olympics from Beijing to deny the Chinese government the chance to use the Games for propaganda purposes.
