A row has erupted in Cork over a trip by the city's mayor to China. The Green Party has labelled the visit to Shanghai as a "junket" and is calling for it to be postponed as a statement against the Chinese government's human rights breaches.
Green Party Cllr Mr Chris O'Leary said yesterday the trip, by Lord Mayor Colm Burke and a delegation from UCC and Cork Chamber of Commerce, was an "appalling event".
"In light of China's appalling record of human rights I call on the lord mayor to cancel the trip. The council must get a commitment from the Chinese that they promise to deal with the continuing human rights problems in their country," Mr O'Leary said.
"There is a large Chinese population in Cork and these people have been forced to travel to Ireland because they have been persecuted by their own country.
"The Chinese government has crushed Tibetans for many years and there are also students who have tried to raise concerns over the country, but who have been silenced. It is important to stand up and be counted on this issue".
The Green Party councillor described the visit as a junket and said that the money spent on the trip would be better used in other projects.
"I work with an anti-poverty project on the north side of the city and I see the problems first-hand. The cost of the trip would be better placed looking after the homeless of the city, revitalising council flats or putting the money towards the City of Culture project for 2005.
"Yet the city council wants to leave the country and go on a trade visit to China - it is a gesture of profit over human lives."
However, Cork Lord Mayor Mr Colm Burke reacted angrily to suggestions that the council was recklessly spending public money.
"It is outrageous to suggest that this is a junket. I am angry at it. There is a massive benefit to this trip.
"China is the world's fastest-growing economy. Shanghai has much to offer us and we have much to offer in return.
"I am looking forward to exploring with our Chinese hosts how best we can capitalise on the strengthening relationship between our two cities," he said.
The mayor will be accompanied today by Cork city manager Mr Joe Gavin, Prof Gabriel Crean, director of the National Microelectronics Research Centre (NMRC), Mr Robin O'Sullivan, president of the Cork Chamber of Commerce, and Prof Kevin Collins of University College Cork.
They will visit Fundan and Jiaotong universities, which both signed five-year collaborative research agreements with the NMRC.
They will also visit Shanghai's municipal authority, science and software parks, a number of companies and Shanghai's culture and broadcasting bureau.
They will also meet with representatives from Enterprise Ireland, which has a base in Shanghai.