Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I presume that by now most Members of the House have received a copy of a letter sent to the Director-General of the World Health Organization because of the exclusion of Taiwan from the World Health Assembly meeting that will take place between 9 and 14 November. I ask that the Leader of the House request the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society to write to the World Health Organization for the inclusion of Taiwan in these talks. Taiwan seems to be the most successful country in tackling Covid-19 and has also been very generous in giving its products to other countries right around the world. It has only had 544 confirmed cases and seven deaths up to October of this year. That is an incredible record. It has given generously to other countries around the world, including member states of the European Union. It has given 54 million surgical masks, 35,000 thermometers, 227 sets of protective clothing, 600,000 isolation gowns, polymerase chain reaction, PCR, test devices and medical gloves to more than 80 countries around the world over the past few months. That is very generous. As I said, given the number of cases in Taiwan, with a population of 23 million people, it is the world leader, yet it is being excluded from the World Health Assembly talks taking place in November. We have not heard the World Health Organization or even the Irish Government or many of the European governments expressing what is best practice around the world. They always state we are following best practice. Best practice seems to me to be what is being done in Taiwan. I ask that the Leader contact the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society to discuss supporting Taiwan in this case.