Minister Simon Coveney’s response to the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen in Hong Kong is “tame” and displays a diplomacy that is “terrified by its own shadow”, said Independent TD Carol Nolan.

In a response to a parliamentary question from Ms Nolan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs did not specify if he will raise the Catholic prelate’s arrest directly with China.

Minister Coveney said he was “concerned” about Cardinal Zen’s arrest and added that it is “the latest in a series of actions under the National Security Law that impinge upon fundamental freedoms for Hong Kong”.

“Ireland will continue to raise concerns directly with China and to address these issues in the appropriate multilateral fora,” Mr Coveney continued in his response.

Commenting on Minister Coveney’s statement, Ms Nolan told The Irish Catholic that “Ireland’s response, and the PQ reply in particular, while welcome and better than nothing, is very much as tame and muted a response as we have to expect.

“We seem more concerned with not saying anything remotely offensive than forthrightly and forcefully condemning such actions,” she continued.