John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will record my dissatisfaction with that because, as I said to the Minister, going back to the time when Michael Noonan was Minister for Finance, all efforts were made to try to conclude an arrangement with Taiwan. In respect of the political position regarding China and Taiwan, I understood the arrangement the UK and other countries have was at an advanced stage between representatives of Taiwan and the Department of Finance. To resurrect that arrangement or proposal would not take from the urgency of completing the G20 list. I again say to the Minister that there is a strong connection between Taiwan and Ireland. Taiwan is a market of 24 million people and is anxious to play its part on the world stage. We know why it has been hampered in doing that. This type of arrangement does not fly in the face of any political position. Our European partners are actively promoting trade in Taiwan and actively reaching agreements. We could take an off-the-shelf agreement for these countries and use it for Ireland. I encourage the Minister and his officials to perhaps look at the arrangement. It is a signal to traders doing business on both sides that we are players in the market.