Mayor clarifies controversial human rights remarks

Athlone's Mayor Alan Shaw has this week said that comments regarding human rights issues in China attributed to him were part of a wider interview "which largely dealt with the very positive news, at that time, concerning Westmeath Co Co granting of planning permission for the Euro China Trade Hub". The mayor was quoted as saying that one of the reasons Chinese backers chose Ireland for a trade hub was because Ireland had not been preaching to the Chinese about human rights. The quote first appeared in an article in the Christian Science Monitor and was published again in the Irish Times last Tuesday, which attracted much attention and criticism on social media sites, including Twitter. The original article, which appeared on the Christian Science Monitor website on January 6 this year stated: "Athlone Mayor Alan Shaw said town residents are pleased that the county council approved the project. He said he believed that one reason the Chinese backers chose Ireland for such a huge investment is that unlike other European countries. "IIreland has not been preaching to the Chinese about human rights," he is quoted as saying in both pieces. The comment drew quite a bit of attention last week from users of Twitter with about 40 people either retweeting the quote from the Irish Times or commenting on it. One user asked if the mayor would be forced to resign over the comments, while another posted: "If Athlone's mayor said what he is alleged to have said on human rights issues, I would like to apologise on behalf of the town." This week, Cllr Shaw, in a written statement, moved to clarify the quote attributed to him, although he did not deny making the comment. "I am pleased to clarify the quotation attributed to me. The direct quotation used was part of a wider interview which largely dealt with the very positive news, at that time, concerning Westmeath County Council granting of planning permission for the Euro China Trade Hub, which was announced prior to Christmas. "I recognise that progress has been made regarding human rights issues in China and I also recognise the requirement for further progress. It doesn't mean that we do not engage on matters of business which could give rise to investment and jobs in Ireland. In my view the way to make progress in relation to any issue is to stay engaged with the people involved." The mayor added that Ireland has a long standing record in the area of human rights. "We have contributed continuously to humanitarian missions around the world and we have a very strong record in that regard. My position reflects the Fine Gael position and indeed the Government's position. The issue of human rights was raised recently by the Taoiseach in China and it is the intention of Government to stay engaged together with the EU on the matter."