Cllr. Deasy criticized the apparent lack of engagement with human rights and environmental issues, and he sought to ask Cork City Council whether any member of the delegation raised concerns about the plight of the Uyghur communities or the persecuted Christian and Tibetan minority communities. Were labour practices in Chinese factors or environmental concerns in China questioned?
Cllr. Deasy noted that when he attempted to pose these questions at the City Council meeting on March 10th, he was harangued so by the Lord Mayor, who claimed Cllr. Deasy was making a statement rather than asking questions.
“I believe the Lord Mayor’s actions were an attempt to prevent scrutiny of this trip and avoid addressing uncomfortable truths,” Cllr. Deasy said. “This raises further concerns, especially given the report’s mention of inward foreign direct investment by Chinese investors in our city. The answers to these questions are clearly in the public interest.”
Noting the €25,000 cost of the Shanghai trip, and overall expenditure on foreign travel in 2024 of €244,000, Cllr. Deasy is calling for a comprehensive review of expenditure and procurement across the administrative arm of Cork City Council, with a view to directing funding towards the operational arm and addressing Member’s priorities of housing provision, housing maintenance and basic infrastructural deficits.
Contact: [Cllr. Albert Deasy’s Contact Information