Bernard Allen
Ceist:107 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will be supporting the application made by Taiwan for observer status to be granted at the forthcoming World Health Assembly. [12004/02]
Written Answers. - World Health Assembly.
The issue of Taiwan's membership of the WHO is not on the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the WHO Assembly. In January 2002, Guatemala sought to have the executive board of WHO place the issue of Taiwanese membership on the agenda for WHO assembly session, to be held in May 2002. The proposal was rejected by a roll call vote in which 20 members voted against, four in favour, with eight abstentions.
Currently, Ireland is not a member of the executive board of the World Health Organisation. The executive board is composed of 32 persons technically qualified in the field of health who serve as Government representatives for a three year term.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:108 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications of the European Parliament's decision to adopt the resolution on 14 May 2002 in support of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organisation as an observer in the forthcoming World Health Assembly; and if the Government will support their application for membership. [12005/02]
The European Parliament passed a resolution on 14 March in which MEPs called on the World Health Assembly, WHA, to accept observer status for Taiwan. I understand that in January 2002 Guatemala sought to have the executive board of WHO place the issue of Taiwanese membership on the agenda for the forthcoming WHO assembly session. The proposal was rejected by a roll call vote in which 20 members voted against, four in favour, with eight abstentions. The EU members of the executive board, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and the UK abstained on the vote on Taiwanese membership. Ireland is not currently a member of the executive board of the World Health Organisation. The issue of Taiwanese membership is accordingly not on the agenda of the forthcoming assembly meeting which is to take place in Geneva in May.