Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge what the Minister of State has said and appreciate its tone as regards the value that Ireland places on Taiwanese co-operation. I also appreciate what the Tánaiste said in his speech at the Royal Irish Academy’s conference on 2 May. I am not sure the headline I would have taken from that speech was a reaffirmation of Ireland's support for the One China policy. What was much more important than that is the acknowledgement that as global colleagues, we must also raise with China issues with which we are not happy. One of those has to be Taiwan. The Minister of State referred to "a technical contribution" being made. Why can Taiwan not be a proper and full observer at the WHO? Would that not make sense? The Minister of State acknowledged the contribution Taiwan can make on SARS and Covid-19, while at the same time noting that it has not been invited to be an observer since 2016. Why not? Why can Ireland not say Taiwan should be there as an observer? It should play its full part in whatever way it can. Let us do that for the benefit of everyone - China, Ireland, Taiwan and all the other countries of the world.