On the afternoon of July 21, Legislative Yuan Vice President Johnny C. Chiang, accompanied by KMT Legislator Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang, DPP Legislator Dr. Wang Cheng-Hsu, TPP Legislator Chen Gau-Tzu, Director Kevin C.F. Lin of the Department of International Affairs, and Deputy Secretary General Josephine Lee of the Department of European Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a five-member delegation led by Deputy Speaker of the Irish House of Representatives, John McGuinness.

After taking a group photo with the visiting delegation and attending legislators, Vice President Chiang expressed his great honor in welcoming Irish guests to the Legislative Yuan for the second time. On behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its president Daniel K.Y. Han, he thanked Ireland for its longstanding support for Taiwan: not only for its continued advocacy of Taiwan’s international participation, but also for its efforts to advance the signing of the Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between Taiwan and the European Union. He expressed particular appreciation to Deputy Speaker McGuinness for his unwavering friendship with Taiwan, noting that he has visited Taiwan eight times and currently serves as Chair of the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, actively fostering parliamentary exchanges between the two sides.

Vice President Chiang also praised Ireland’s scenic beauty and strong cultural soft power. He noted that the country has served as a filming location for globally renowned movies such as Harry Potter and Star Wars, and has produced four Nobel laureates in literature. In music and dance, world-famous names like U2, The Cranberries, and Riverdance have captivated audiences worldwide. Ireland is also a major technology hub, with 16 of the world’s top 20 tech companies establishing a presence there. Vice President Chiang pointed out that while both Taiwan and Ireland are relatively small in terms of land area and population, they are island nations heavily reliant on international trade, adding that the two sides share high complementarities in sectors such as semiconductors, high-tech development, AI, and cultural soft power. He also cited the latest IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook and the United Nations' World Happiness Report 2025, which rank both Taiwan and Ireland among the most resilient and happiest nations. He expressed hope that both sides would continue to deepen their exchanges and cooperation through parliamentary friendship groups, thereby further strengthening the close and substantive ties between Taiwan and Ireland.

Deputy Speaker McGuinness thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for taking the time to meet with the delegation. After introducing the members of his delegation, he remarked that although Ireland is small in land area, it holds considerable economic and trade influence within the European Union. He added that Ireland is dedicated to promoting development in its economy, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and agricultural transformation. In a complex and fast-changing international landscape, he emphasized the importance of close engagement and mutual learning among global partners, as well as the value of cross-sector cooperation. While he has visited Taiwan many times, he said each visit has brought new insights and surprises. Looking ahead, he expressed hope for even stronger ties between Taiwan and Ireland and reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for the establishment of an Irish representative office in Taiwan.

During the exchange, Legislator Chen, speaking on behalf of the KMT caucus, expressed gratitude to Ireland for its consistent and firm support for Taiwan. He stressed the importance of deepening educational exchanges between the two countries, especially in today’s dynamic and uncertain global environment, where mutual learning and complementarity are essential. He looked forward to enhanced student and academic exchange programs. Legislator Chen also referred to a 2021 article by The Economist that described Taiwan as “the most dangerous place on earth.” Yet, thanks to international attention and support, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait have been maintained, proving that mutual cooperation and shared learning can strengthen collective resilience in the face of global challenges.

Legislator Wang warmly welcomed the Irish delegation and voiced optimism about future cooperation in areas including semiconductors, biomedical science, AI, and higher education. He highlighted Ireland’s recent launch of Silicon Island: Ireland’s National Semiconductor Strategy in May this year, noting the potential for Taiwan and Ireland to establish permanent mechanisms for cooperation in supply chain resilience, talent exchange, and AI governance. He also acknowledged Ireland’s strengths in pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing, which complement Taiwan’s own capabilities, and proposed that both sides work toward frameworks to promote medical innovation and industry-academia collaboration. Legislator Wang also extended heartfelt thanks to Deputy Speaker McGuinness for his enduring friendship with Taiwan and for consistently voicing support for Taiwan during his tenure as Chair of the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association—a valuable and deeply appreciated partnership and friendship.

Legislator Chen, who serves as Taiwan’s Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), emphasized the strong bond between Taiwan and Ireland, which is rooted in shared values such as democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. One of IPAC’s core missions, she noted, is to unite legislators from around the world to counter authoritarianism and defend democracy. She was particularly encouraged by the presence of two Irish IPAC co-chairs in the visiting delegation, which reinforced her sense of mission and responsibility. Legislator Chen expressed hope that Taiwan and Ireland will further expand cooperation in high-tech and AI fields, and continue deepening exchanges and engagement on the international stage.

During the bilateral discussions, the two sides also exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including academic and educational exchanges between Taiwan and Ireland, policies to address the aging population, the role of the Taiwan-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Association, Ireland’s AI development strategies, high-tech industry collaboration, and the Executive Yuan’s Youth Advisory Committee. The meeting lasted approximately one hour in a warm and friendly atmosphere. It concluded successfully with both sides exchanging commemorative gifts.