Human rights do not feature on China trip

IRISH ministers made it clear last night that when it comes to China, profits are much more important than human rights.

As the trade mission to Shanghai boasted of confirming €25m worth of business, the two Government ministers visiting the one-party state admitted Irish concerns over Tibet or the suppression of basic rights had not been mentioned.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe and junior Trade Minister John McGuinness claimed it was not their job to protest against human rights abuses in what is now the world’s fourth biggest economy.