Trade missions and human rights

Sir, – Prof Damian McCormack's letter (January 29th) intrigues me. He criticises trade missions to countries whose human rights record does not meet his approval. He appears to want Ireland not to have any dealings with those whose human rights values he questions.

I am typing this letter on a computer manufactured in China, which has a poor human rights record. The computer company is situated in the United States, which uses the death penalty. Many of the computer parts are made in India, which conducts a space programme while many of its citizens go hungry.

Should I abandon the computer age and revert to the pencil? – Yours, etc,

SEAN O’SULLIVAN,

Crossabeg,

Co Wexford.