Written answers

Tuesday, 30 March 2004

Department of Foreign Affairs

International Recognition

9:00 pm

Photo of Fiona O'MalleyFiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will intervene on behalf of Taiwan to have that country accepted into the WHO. [9879/04]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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For several years, Taiwan has been lobbying to be accepted as a member of the World Health Organisation, WHO. As Taiwan has not succeeded in securing membership of the WHO, it has sought observer status at the organisation's annual World Health Assembly, WHA. In previous years, the assembly has not included the issue of Taiwan as an item on its agenda.

Since 1971, when Ireland voted in favour of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, we have recognised the Government of the People's Republic of China, PRC, as the sole legitimate government of China. Ireland, together with our EU partners, adheres to the one-China policy. As such, the Government does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. For these reasons, we do not support Taiwanese membership of organisations where statehood is a prerequisite for membership, and take the view that any status granted to Taiwan by the WHO must be compatible with the One-China policy.

However, Ireland fully supports the co-operative efforts between the World Health Organisation and all concerned groups, including non-members, which ensure that relevant information and expertise on global health issues, and in particular epidemics and transmittable diseases such as SARS and avian flu, are shared.

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