Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
119. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the intention of the Government to reopen our representative office in Taipei, which closed in 2012 because of austerity measures, in order to encourage greater trade and cultural links to the region. [53388/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland, along with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and that we recognise the People's Republic of China as the legal representative of China. This does not preclude the development of economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections with Taiwan; nor the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant multilateral fora.
The European Union is represented in Taiwan by the European Economic and Trade Office, which seeks to strengthen economic and trade relations with Taiwan. There has been a Taipei Representative Office in Dublin since 1988.
IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland, actively manages the Taiwanese market from its Singapore office. In response to continuing trends identifying Singapore as the primary source of outbound FDI destined for Europe, IDA Ireland considers it prudent to maintain its market presence in Singapore. Enterprise Ireland services Taiwan from its office in Hong Kong. There are no plans by Government agencies to open a representative office in Taiwan.
With regard to people to people connections, Taiwanese residents are eligible to apply to participate in Ireland's Working Holiday Programme. Each year, this programme gives 400 young people from Taiwan the opportunity to come live and work in Ireland. Young Irish people can avail of a similar programme in Taiwan.
