Uyghur report debate
An amendment to take motion No. 91, motion 2, immediately after No. 1 is pressed and then withdrawn when the Acting Leader undertakes that Government time will be provided. The House is told a fuller debate will be held early in the new year.
Senator Michael McDowell proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 91, motion 2, be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate." Is the amendment being pressed?
Comment on this
I heard what the Acting Leader said about having the matter debated. I do not want, in any sense, to diminish the capacity of people to contribute on the Uyghur subject. If the acting Leader is signalling that time will be made available in Government time to consider this report in the new year, I would be prepared not to put it to a vote today and divide the House.
I was just looking at the particular paragraph of No. 91, motion 2, and at the other motion on Mr. Richard O'Halloran. It is nine months since I stood up in this House and asked on behalf of the movers of that motion for the Government to do something for this man. He is three years away from his wife and children. He is being imprisoned by a vicious regime in China in respect of a transaction that took place before he even joined the company, which it is complaining about. Nothing has been done to get him back but it is about time it was. I am sorry; I said nothing has been done but I know the Department of Foreign Affairs has been moving behind the scenes.
We have to stand up to this wolf diplomacy. We have to say to the Chinese, "Enough." An Irish person cannot be interned in Beijing for three years because China has some dispute with his employer. It is enough. We have taken too much. I will withdraw the amendment on the understanding that the acting Leader will provide time to read this report. As I said, I gave it to every Member of the House today, and it is a shocking, disgusting read. I do not expect anyone to read it before Christmas, but please read it in the days after Christmas and come back to this House and give Beijing the torpedo it deserves from an Irish democratic assembly.
I withdraw the amendment on that basis.
Comment on this
I thank the Senator and I will undertake that it will be provided. As he said, he has circulated the report and I am sure Members will read it over their break. We will have a fuller debate early in the new year.