The Government will raise human rights abuses in China during next week's visit by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and other Cabinet ministers, although it will be done discreetly, writes Mark Hennessy.
Insisting that the Government is not facing "any restrictions" on the issue, an official this week said the Government had always brought up human rights questions in bilateral talks in the past. China's human rights record was now covered by the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which has been running since 1994, the official said.
However, it is clear the priority, given the rapidly growing importance of the Chinese market for the global economy, is winning trade deals for the 200 Irish companies accompanying the Government delegation.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch recently described China "as a highly repressive state" which frequently imposes the death penalty, although legal reforms have been made, along with some greater press freedom.
Mr Finian McGrath TD (Ind) strongly attacked the Government for failing to protest more strongly about China's treatment of Tibet.