John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I am not asking that. I am interested in the policy, but it is not for this committee. There are new developments with regard to Taiwan and China with regard to cross-strait agreements and economic agreements. There is an interest in the route to Asia through Taipei and back into China. The EU has a presence there. Many of the countries there do not have diplomatic relationships with Taiwan, but through this office they have a presence there which facilitates trade with these European countries, our competitors, and we do not have a representative there. Separate to this, an individual was there who was funded through Enterprise Ireland but this stopped. The Department is now responsible for trade. This seems to contradict our ambition to have a presence in greater China and Asia, when there are business interests, be it in the food sector through Glanbia and others, which are discussing having a presence in Taiwan. Could a continuation of the Enterprise Ireland presence be investigated? Perhaps the same person could be used to have a presence with our competitors, the other European countries, using an office funded by Europe.