Cork City Councillor Albert Deasy has written to the Chief Executive of Cork County Council seeking clarity on Chinese-linked investment, saying funding should be consistent with Irish values.
The Cork politician says he wants “clear public reassurance” on the extent and oversight of Chinese-linked funding in Cork. It follows Cork City Council’s recent official delegation visit to its twin city, Shanghai, led by the Lord Mayor last month.
Since 2005, Cork City Council has had a “sister city” relationship with Shanghai, through which various initiatives involving business, culture and education are coordinated. The Cork Chamber of Commerce and Invest Shanghai have partnered together to foster trade and investment between the two cities.
The delegation who travelled to China to celebrate 20 years of the Cork-Shanghai partnership included senior representatives from University College Cork (UCC), Munster Technological University (MTU) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) alongside Council members and officials.
In 2024, Cllr Deasy raised concerns about the Sister City relationship. During a council meeting last month, he flagged the issue again in light of the Shanghai visit.
The Cllr says he has worries about the serious human rights concerns raised in the most recent UN report on China.
Cllr Deasy described the findings on the treatment of Tibetans, Uyghurs, religious communities, journalists and civil society activists as “truly frightening.”
Independent Cllr Deasy said that documented human rights concerns cannot be ignored when public resources or the Council’s international reputation are involved.
He highlighted last year’s official delegation report which states that “Chinese Government approval is required for Sectoral Cooperation to proceed” — a requirement which Cllr Deasy said has no equivalent in Cork’s other twinning relationships.
“When we build ties with Boston or San Francisco, we do not need political approval from Washington. That difference matters, and it deserves an honest conversation,” the Cllr said.
Like all of you, I want Cork to attract investment, create jobs and offer world-class education. Chinese investment and the fees paid by Chinese students are part of that picture. But we must also ask if the source of any funding is consistent with our values,” he told the Chamber in November.
‘SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS’
While he expressed “genuine respect and appreciation for the Chinese people, including the many thousands who now call Cork home and who enrich our city every day,” the Cllr said he is asking Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan to answer a number of questions.
Firstly, to clarify whether there are any current or planned developments in the city (for example in the Docklands) partially or wholly funded — directly or indirectly — by entities ultimately owned or controlled by organs of the Chinese state or Communist Party, or domiciled in China but outside full Central Bank of Ireland/EU regulatory oversight.
Further, Cllr Deasy urged the Council boss to confirm whether or not the Council is satisfied that existing national and EU frameworks prevent skills and technologies developed in Cork with Chinese-linked investment from later being used for mass surveillance or other repressive purposes.
He also wants to know what specific safeguards or due-diligence processes are applied when it is the case that public money or public land is involved in projects with Chinese-linked capital.
The independent politician wants Cork City Council to publish a short statement on its website acknowledging the serious human-rights concerns documented by the United Nations and reputable international organisations, while reaffirming the Council’s commitment to ethical international engagement. He is also urging the Council to ask the Department of Foreign Affairs to convey these concerns, in a spirit of friendship and openness, to authorities in Shanghai.
“With representatives from our universities and the HSE joining the most recent delegation to Shanghai, the reach of this twinning arrangement now extends far beyond the Council chamber,” said Cllr Deasy.
“Cork people warmly welcome engagement and investment, but the public is entitled to reassurance that the same ethical standards are applied here as with every other country. These are reasonable questions that deserve straightforward answers.”
The Office of the Chief Executive has confirmed receipt of the letter and stated that a formal written response will be provided in due course.