Tánaiste criticised for ‘crude’ statement on human rights

Eamon Gilmore was under fire last night for “crudely” comparing the plight of human rights abuse victims in China with potential business deals.

Defending his failure to raise individual cases with visiting Chinese vice president Xi Jinping, the Tánaiste said: “No, we didn’t raise specific cases anymore than we raised specific trade investments.”

Amnesty International branded the linkage “extremely unfortunate” and Sinn Féin dismissed it as “crude”.