Four Irish parliamentarians have announced their membership in the International All-Party Alliance of Lawmakers (IPAC), the twentieth country to join the IPAC to discuss global trade, security, and human rights issues related to the Chinese Communist Party.
On February 27, Senator Malcolm Byrne of the Irish Republican Party (Fianna Fáil), Senator Barry Ward of the United Party (Fine Gael), Senator Michael McDowell and Senator Michael McNamara joined IPAC. Michael McNamara joined the Inter-Parliamentary Policy Alliance on China (IPAC) to work to ensure that the Irish government takes a tougher stance on the Chinese Communist Party.
IPAC is committed to changing the way democracies treat the Chinese Communist Party, and since its launch last June by former British Conservative Party leader Sir Ian Duncan Smith and others, more than 200 parliamentarians from North America, Australia and Europe have joined across party lines. Key members include U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, Democrat Bob Menendez, former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, and former Japanese Defense Minister General Gen Nakatan.
Senator Bourne and Senator Ward will serve as IPAC Ireland representatives and co-chairs of IPAC. They previously took the lead in the Irish Senate in asking the government to grant political asylum to exiled Hong Kongers. Together with Senator McDowell and Congressman McNamara, they will work to ensure that Ireland joins other member states in “playing a role in holding the Chinese government accountable.
As democratically elected legislators, we have a responsibility not only to uphold democracy at Home, but also to uphold the cause of democracy abroad,” Bourne said. The Chinese Communist government’s suppression of democracy in Hong Kong is unacceptable, a violation of international law, and a serious challenge to an order based on international rules.”
“Ireland must play a role in holding the Chinese Communist government accountable for these acts of persecution. We will only succeed if we stand united. Recognizing this challenge is critical and (we) cannot be separated by national or partisan differences.”
Senator Ward commented, “As a member of the UN Security Council and a country that is not militarily or industrially competitive with China, Ireland is in a unique position, both diplomatically and in international relations. With this position, we have the opportunity to demonstrate to China (the Communist Party) that human rights violations should not be the act of a responsible global power and that the international community will not tolerate (this act).”
He stressed, “It is not the Chinese people we are criticizing, but the Chinese Communist government. Our deep love and respect for the Chinese people and Chinese Culture cannot stop us from standing firm against the serious human rights violations committed by the Chinese (Communist) government in Xinjiang, Tibet and elsewhere.”
Earlier, Senator McDowell, who called in Parliament to condemn the long illegal detention of Irish citizen Richard O’Halloran by the Chinese Communist Party, stated, “Engagement with China cannot come at the cost (of) our values. Together with our partners in the democratic world, we must hold the Chinese government accountable for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet and elsewhere. Ireland must stand firmly with the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan as they come under increasing pressure from Beijing.”
Irish businessman O’Halloran has been restricted from leaving China for two years without any charges.
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