CHINA: The lack of any opportunity for media questioning during the three-day official visit of the Chinese Vice-Premier, Mr Huang Ju, has been condemned as "censorship" by the National Union of Journalists, writes Deaglán de Bréadún Foreign Affairs Correspondent
The Irish secretary of the NUJ, Mr Seamus Dooley, said the union was "gravely concerned" that, while the Vice-Premier's schedule included six photo opportunities, there was no press conference.
"There is an important distinction to be made between propaganda and news, and it would be particularly alarming if the Irish Government or any representative of the Irish State agreed to facilitate what is a form of censorship," Mr Dooley said.
"The concept of facilitating 'soft' photo opportunities inevitably turns an official visit into a propaganda coup while ignoring real issues of concern, including human rights issues.
"The Government should clarify why they agreed to facilitate the evasion of questioning from the media on the part of the Chinese Vice-Premier."
However, the Government's position was defended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern, who said the issue of holding press conferences was raised at official level before Mr Ju's visit, but the Chinese had rejected the suggestion.
The Minister added: "Obviously they make their own decisions in relation to these issues. They can't be forced."
Mr Ahern was speaking at Dublin Castle last night ahead of a joint meeting between Mr Ju and the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Ms Harney.
He meets Mr Ju again over lunch today with representatives of Enterprise Ireland. The Vice-Premier's visit concludes tomorrow.
When it was put to Mr Ahern that there appeared to be a lot of human rights issues in China to be raised, he replied: "We will be raising those. Ireland, during our [ EU] Presidency, was instrumental in raising issues under the . . . EU-China Human Rights Dialogue."
He added: "The Government did previously raise a number of specific cases in that dialogue, and were successful, in that three people were released subsequently who had connections with Ireland.
"And obviously there is more to be done in relation to it and I will be raising other issues in that respect here."
The Minister said a "myriad" of issues would be discussed, both bilateral and international: the proposed visit of the Taoiseach to China in January, trade, investment, agriculture, education, health, communications, tourism, culture and EU-China relations.