Accompanied by Legislators Tang Hui-jane, Chiu Chen-yuan, Chen Jiau-hua, Deputy Secretary General Kao Ming-chiu, Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh and European Affairs Department Deputy Secretary General Liu To, Vice President Tsai Chi-ching met the five-member delegation of Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society of Taiwan led by Chairman John McGuinness.

First of all, on behalf of Legislative Yuan, Vice President Tsai extended a warm welcome the delegation. He still recalled when Chairman John McGuinness visited Taiwan in 2018, he had the honor to host him. There is a Taiwanese saying goes like this: first visit makes you a stranger and second visit makes you an acquaintance. So, Vice President Tsai was glad to see his old friend again and welcomed him to visit Taiwan.

Vice President Tsai stated that Ireland upholds freedom and respect for human rights. It is a happy country. According to OECD data, Ireland’s GDP growth reached 12.2%, the top among OECD members as well as Euro zone. In particular, its birth rate reached 1.78, one of the leading countries in Europe. Therefore, there are many things that Taiwan can emulate.

Vice President Tsai then thanked the Parliament of Ireland for its support to Taiwan by passing three bills over the past 10 years to support peace and stability in Taiwan Strait and to maintain democracy and freedom in Taiwan. Especially, Chairman John McGuinness provides longstanding support to Taiwan over the years, including providing full support to Taiwan’s participation in World Health Assembly and other international organizations. In addition, he coordinated 50 Irish senators to send a joint letter to WHO Director General to let us feel the warm of Ireland. He once again expressed the heartfelt and sincerest thanks to him.  

Vice President Tsai continued to express that both Taiwan and Ireland shared the value of democracy. Two peoples are living under the framework of democracy, freedom and rule of law created by forebears to enjoy their lives. Therefore, Taiwan has to be united with democratic alliance to fight against the expansion of the authoritarianism and to cooperate based on the cornerstone of democratic system. However, the global democratic landscape faces the encroachment of authoritarianism and has gradually shrunk. He hoped that democracies will face the expansion of authoritarianism.

Vice President Tsai also stated that Taiwan stands on the frontline in resisting the authoritarian rule. There is no room to back down or withdraw. The people of Taiwan and generations to come hope to live in democratic and free system. Therefore, we demonstrate will and make efforts to stand with our good friends of democratic alliance to face the issue of authoritarian expansion. He pointed out that Taiwan is in a key position of world economic and geopolitical development. A Taiwan contingency is a contingency for global democracy. He was grateful to the delegation members to stand with Taiwan and global democracy. He concluded his remarks by wishing the delegation feel Taiwan’s warm welcome.

Chairman John McGuinness then delivered his remarks by thanking Vice President Tsai and legislators for their time to welcome the delegation and to have the opportunity to show their support to democratic Taiwan. He believed that Taiwan plays an important role in global trade and international organizations. He hoped this visit would convey their support to Taiwan’s democracy and people. He continued to state that in the history of Ireland, it also faced difficulties and challenges. It is just like when Taiwan confronts unfriendly neighbor, but we do not want to have a conflict but cooperation and peace. The current global challenges are man-made and hope that Taiwan can assist in settling these issues. Therefore, he and the delegation members will continue to support Taiwan in EU and Formosa Club. In addition, he also hoped that Taiwan and Ireland can deepen cooperation, to learn from each other and to increase exchanges in the fields of education, culture and health to make each other better. The Parliament of Ireland will continue to cooperate with the its administration to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

Legislator Chen Jiau-hua stated that New Power Party is the smallest political the opposition party. Since its inception seven years ago, it has focused on the issues of labor rights and interest, environment and land. In the future, she continued to state that Ireland’s biotech is very advanced. Taiwan imports a lot of medical products, vaccines and blood product and others. She hoped that economic and trade exchanges will learn from each other in the field of expertise. She also hoped that Ireland will assist Taiwan to join international organizations to fight against the expansion of the authoritarian regime.  

In his remarks, Taiwan People’s Party Convener Chiu Chen-yuan thanked the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society of Taiwan for its support to Taiwan. Especially Chairman John McGuinness supports the status quo across Taiwan Strait and Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. He hoped that parliamentary exchanges will make more contributions to regional peace. He continued by saying that there are a lot of things that Taiwan can learn from Ireland. For example, Ireland has quite high GDP per capita and happiness index. Many international high-tech industries and software companies have their headquarters in Ireland with outstanding achievements. He looked forward to more future engagements. He proposed three points to deepen exchanges with Ireland, including safeguarding democracy together, pursues peace and stability in Taiwan Strait and deepen economic and trade relations between Taiwan and Ireland. He ended his remarks by wishing the delegation a successful visit.

In her remarks, Legislator Tang Hui-jane pointed out that this marked the seventh visit of Chairman John McGuinness, he must see some changes and progresses. Facing the bad neighbor, Taiwan needs to protect its own democracy, freedom and human rights. Although some international friends doubt about Taiwan’s poise attitude toward Russian-Ukraine war, the people of Taiwan need to continue their daily life and to find an existential space to make our country great. Taiwan is willing to make friends with the entire world. She mentioned about that the entire world is like a big neighborhood. She is pleased to see friends from Ireland to encourage Taiwan to provide more strength for Taiwan to continue to make efforts.  

Both sides exchanged views on economic and trade relations between Taiwan and Ireland, healthcare, participation in politics for physically and mentally challenged people, democratic alliance cooperation, social medica applications. The meeting concluded at 3:10 a.m. after exchange of gifts and group photos. (E)

Note: Delegation members
1. A member of Dáil Eireann John McGuinness
2. A member of Dáil Eireann Brendan Smith
3.Senator Seán Kyne
4. Senator Martin Conway
5. A member of Dáil Eireann Cathal Berry