Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
100. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she has raised or will raise the case of a person (details supplied) with the Chinese Ambassador and with the Chinese authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22375/26]
View answerIreland has repeatedly expressed our concerns about the human rights situation in Hong Kong, including this specific case.
Officials in the Consulate General of Ireland in Hong Kong have followed the case of Mr. Jimmy Lai closely, alongside our EU colleagues. Officials from my Department have also met with members of Mr. Lai’s international legal team on a number of occasions, including in recent weeks. While I have not yet had the opportunity to have a bilateral meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, Ireland regularly raises human rights issues, including Mr. Lai’s case, with Chinese interlocutors. Most recently, the Taoiseach raised Mr. Lai’s case directly with the senior Chinese leadership during his visit to China in January.
Ireland also regularly raises human rights issues in China at the UN. Ireland’s national statement at the ongoing 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council specifically reiterated our concerns on restrictions on the civic space in Hong Kong. Ireland also supported the EU’s statement that noted the repressive use of the National Security Law continues to undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms and calls for Mr. Lai's release, among other human rights defenders.
Following the sentencing of Mr. Lai on 9 February, in answer to a number of Parliamentary Questions, I echoed the call by the EU and others for Mr. Lai to be immediately released, especially in consideration of his advanced age and health condition.
As a previous EU statement in December 2025 noted, developments in the case are emblematic of the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong. Ireland remains concerned that the introduction of the National Security Law in June 2020 and the subsequent legislation adopted in March 2023 are having a chilling effect the civic space and are a risk to Hong Kong’s high-degree autonomy of under the One Country, Two Systems principle.
