John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the immediate granting by the World Health Assembly of observer status to Taiwan in view of the outbreak of a new multi-strain swine flu in Mexico and the US and as part of the world wide mobilisation of resources to fight the threatened epidemic, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17700/09]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that the World Health Organisation has said the outbreak of a new multi-strain swine flu in Mexico and the US is a public health emergency of international concern and as part of the world wide mobilisation of resources to fight the threatened epidemic, he will support the immediate granting by the World Health Assembly of observer status to Taiwan. [17699/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 387 together.

In common with most Member States of the UN, and all EU partners, Ireland adheres to a one-China policy, recognising the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. We therefore 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, against the above background, and with our EU partners, Ireland continues to be active in seeking to ensure Taiwan's meaningful participation in the activities of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the fullest extent possible, so as to ensure that there is no geographical gap in the important work of that organisation. In this context, Ireland supports the Taiwanese application for observer status at the meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA) on 18-27 May. I understand that the Government of China also accepts Taiwan's participation as an observer. As such, I would not anticipate that there will be any obstacle to the WHA granting observer status to Taiwan on this occasion.