I wish to share my time with Senator Coogan.
Adjournment Matters. - Diplomatic Representation.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I welcome the Minister to the House. I understand why we do not have diplo matic relations with Taiwan. I do not support those reasons but it will not change and it is not why I am raising the issue this evening. I would like to put on record my admiration for the regime in Taiwan. All of us have watched with interest the way in which Taiwan established itself, independent and, for much of its lifetime, isolated and in permanent danger. In spite of that it has built up a powerful economy, it has undergone the process of democratisation in a way that is impressive. We have watched with interest also the move towards the implementation of a full civil rights programme there, something which has not happened and is unlikely to happen on mainland China.
There is no reason we should not have strong cultural, political and trading links with Taiwan – good informal political links currently exist. Taiwan has many friends on all sides of both Houses and this may be a good time to pay tribute to the head of the Taiwan delegation in Dublin, Mr. John Lee, who will be leaving us shortly. He has many friends in this House and in Irish business and he did a splendid job as his country's representative.
We could do a lot more by way of educational and cultural exchanges but I want to concentrate on the trade aspect. Without promotion by Government, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Ireland is substantial. In the Asia Pacific seminar held by IBEC in November 2000, both of the speakers representing Waterford Wedgewood and Baileys acclaimed Taiwan as their fastest growing market and the market of greatest business potential.
In 1996, 6.6 million Taiwanese people spent their holidays abroad, of which only 1,000 came to Ireland. Surely there is enormous potential there for Irish tourism. More than 15,000 Taiwanese students study in the United Kingdom while fewer than 20 study in Ireland. There is huge potential for us to tap into the Taiwanese market at a time when our universities need the best graduate students available. To promote economic and cultural exchanges the Taiwan Government set up a representative office in Dublin and all other EU countries in 1998. These countries continue to send Government representatives to represent their respective interests in Taiwan and to promote economic and cultural co-operation. As a Government, we do not do so and are losing out.
IDA Ireland previously had a representative in Taipei, Ms Eileen Sharpe, who was responsible for attracting inward investment. Her portfolio did not cover trade, tourism or cultural exchanges. Ms Sharpe left Taiwan last November and the vacancy has not been filled although IDA Ireland continues to maintain an office there with local staff tending to its day to day operations. Ireland does not have a full-time representative in Taipei.
The Irish Government kick-started its Asian strategy in 1999 following the Taoiseach's visit to China. The thrust of that strategy is promoting foreign earnings for Irish business. So far the focus has been on Japan and China. As Taiwan is a market with great business potential, it would serve the practical interests of Ireland if the Government would send a representative officer of appropriate rank and title to promote substantive business interests in Taiwan in the areas of trade, tourism, investment, education and cultural exchanges, as is done by other EU countries. We are alone in what is a stiff-necked diplomatic approach to our dealings with Taiwan. If the Minister, who I know takes an active interest in this matter, could encourage his Department and the Government to adopt a much more co-operative and open approach to our dealings with Taiwan it would be of enormous benefit to many areas of the country.
I would like to associated with sending best wishes to Mr. John Lee and his wife who will leave us after five years for Johannesburg. I hope he enjoys the same success there.
I underline the remarks made by Senator Manning, who has had the opportunity of dealing with the representatives here and in Taiwan. I also had such an opportunity many years ago.
One of the startling facts which struck me – it is almost 20 years since I visited Taiwan – was that I met the British Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. That indicates that they recognised the value of establishing relations between Taiwan and Great Britain 20 years ago whereas we had only developed a very weak link. That link has become even weaker because we do not have a full office in Taiwan. Ireland would benefit enormously from the establishment of such an office. The Taiwanese people are industrialist and expansionist and are looking at markets around the world as we are.
The Minister for Finance referred to the downturn in the American market to which we export more than 70% of our products. That indicates that we have, perhaps, too many eggs in one basket. We are a country dependent on exports. There is a market available to us in Taiwan. If the relationship between the Taiwanese Government and the Chinese Government were enhanced, which is a possibility, there would be an extraordinary market right on the doorstep.
I remember meeting the President of the Teitong factory who told me of his interest in establishing industry in Ireland, before their trade office was established here, and he subsequently did so. That is an indication of the commitment which Taiwan has to world trade, from which we can benefit. We need to be there to ensure we are net beneficiaries at the end of the day. They are industrious people keen to establish stronger relationships and I commend Senator Manning's proposal. I ask the Minister to take on board the recommendation that we establish a full-time office of the IDA in Taiwan. We would be the net beneficiaries.
Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an mbeirt Seanadóirí, cairde liom féin, a chuir an rún seo os comhair an tSeanaid.
Under the strategy for long-term development of foreign earnings in Asia, the Government approved a series of actions, including the improvement of official representation in the region. It was recommended that particular attention should be paid to the establishment of an Ireland House in Beijing, with full commercial service offered to exporters, and to providing for the development of contacts into other Chinese provinces; and to the establishment of a Consulate General of Ireland in Shanghai to develop political and commercial contacts in that city, including the IT sector.
In addition, an extra counsellor post has been established and filled in the Embassy in Beijing and the Enterprise Ireland representative in Beijing functions from the embassy there. Consulates have been established in Shanghai and Sydney and Enterprise Ireland has joined with them in an Ireland House arrangement. An Embassy has also been open in Singapore since May 2000.
The International Trade Ireland office in Taipei is currently staffed by a Taiwanese national and the IDA director in Asia pacific, based in Tokyo, makes regular visits to Taiwan to support the local staff member there. The IDA considers that the level of staff in that office is adequate to service the potential which the market offers at this time.
I very much value the contributions of both Senators. I have had the opportunity to visit China and regard the representative we have in Beijing as one of the most outstanding public officials representing us in any international market. He and his colleague in Tokyo, another very respected public official, do outstanding work with various colleagues assigned to different offices, particularly with the establishment of the Ireland House concept in various cities in the region. These have a huge contribution to make in the future.
Obviously, there is a long link between Ireland and Taiwan and, as the Senators have said, there is huge potential there. Not alone can we tap into their markets and provide services, we can also learn much from them. We need to reinforce our connections and I assure the House that I will take on board what the Senators have said. We will certainly have another look at this.
I hope the Minister of State's personal views, expressed at the end, are closer to what will happen rather than the official view expressed in the script he had. There was a difference.