Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This issue has been on the agenda for some time. Taiwan, as a broader issue, has been there for longer, but I do not want to talk about that. However, much I want to see enhanced relations between Ireland and Taiwan and enhanced trade and enhanced acceptance of Taiwan, as an autonomous and self-determining state, that is probably a more controversial issue than the one I want to raise with the Minister of State.

Ireland is very much aware of the contribution Taiwan can make. Given what we have been through in the past couple of years, as a world community, we understand better than before the importance of global connectivity in terms of dealing with pandemics and all kinds of other health issues. As the health arm of the UN, the WHO is the body where we all come together as nations of the world to discuss these issues but perhaps most importantly, to broker solutions to them and to predict where problems will arise so we can be prepared for them when they happen. Like every other country that has dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic in the past couple of years, Ireland has benefited from the level of expertise and knowledge vested in the WHO. Perhaps also from that, we have seen the benefit or potential for that knowledge that can come from Taiwan and the expertise it has within its very substantial health capacity.

It is not the case that Taiwan has not played its part globally in that regard. We know it also plays its part in terms of the invasion of Ukraine. When that happened, Taiwan was to the forefront in providing aid and assistance in health terms to Ukraine. Obviously, Ireland has also played its part but it is important to acknowledge for Taiwan, as a country that lives under the shadow of China, to continue to play that part is particularly laudable and worthy of recognition.

The World Health Assembly is part of the WHO. The 76th World Health Assembly will take place on 21 May. Yesterday, in these Houses, the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society welcomed Representative Chen Ching-min to the Houses of the Oireachtas to discuss this issue. She is a medical professional but is also a member of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan. To hear her speak about the issues and their importance was quite striking. I am also co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which has been very strong in its support of the role Taiwan has to play in international affairs. Looking at it from that perspective, it is very difficult to understand why we do not as a global community strive to include the knowledge bank that is Taiwan in all the things we want to do, particularly when it comes to something that, let us be honest, is apolitical. I do not know what the rationale behind Taiwan's exclusion from the WHO is apart from fear of repercussions from China and dissatisfaction on the part of China regarding any inclusion of Taiwan in international organisations.

The WHO is less about politics and more about solving global health problems. Taiwan has the capacity to help with the solution of those problems. Taiwan has expertise and a willingness to share that expertise and its experience in terms of global health. It makes perfect sense for Taiwan to be included in the WHO and more importantly, in the upcoming World Health Assembly - even as an observer. That is all it is asking for.For Taiwan to play its part would be of benefit to everyone, including China, whether it recognises that or not. I would like to hear the Minister of State say the Government supports that rational, reasonable and proportionate response to the possibility of Taiwan playing its part in the World Health Assembly. Let us bring it into the tent, hear what it has to say and share its knowledge.