66 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will initiate or support a resolution on China at the forthcoming UNCHR in view of the deterioration in the human rights situation in that country including wide-ranging suppression of peaceful dissent, arbitrary detention, torture, ill treatment and extensive use of the death penalty and in particular China's brutal suppression of the Tibetan people. [6457/00]

67 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek for a resolution on China at the forthcoming UNCHR in view of the deterioration in the human rights situation in that country including wide ranging suppression of peaceful dissent, arbitrary detention, torture, ill treatment and extensive use of the death penalty. [6280/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.

Human rights concerns play an important role in our relations with China. Ireland, together with its partners in the European Union, continues to press strongly and actively for substantial improvements in the human rights situation there.

The United States has announced its intention to table a resolution on human rights in China at the 56th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights which will take place in Geneva from 20 March to 28 April 2000. The Government is currently making its preparations for the session and is considering its position in regard to various resolutions, including the resolution on China. The European Union is pursuing a programme of human rights dialogue with China, which covers a wide range of topics, including all of the aspects referred to in the Deputies' questions. Ireland and our partners in the EU attach importance to concrete progress being made at the EU-China human rights dialogue. The dialogue is not, and cannot be allowed to become, an end in itself but must result in genuine improvements on the ground.