Legislative Yuan Vice President Johnny C. Chiang receives second cross-party delegation of members of the Irish House of Representatives;Vice President Chiang: Taiwan and Ireland share a bond as close as family, and we look forward to deepening cooperation in technology, education, culture, and trade with Ireland.
On the morning of October 30, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) received the second cross-party delegation of members of the Irish House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann). He was accompanied by KMT Legislator Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang, DPP Legislator Kuo Yu-Ching, and TPP Legislator Chen Gau-Tzu.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang began by extending a warm welcome to the cross-party delegation of members of the Irish House of Representatives on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜). He said he was honored to meet the delegation again following the Reception of the Formosa Club’s Annual Conference held earlier that week. Vice President Chiang mentioned that over the past three months, parliamentarians from Taiwan and Ireland have met on three occasions, including a visit from Ireland to Taiwan in July 2025 led by Deputy Speaker John McGuinness, a cross-party delegation visit from Taiwan to Ireland led by Vice President Chiang in September, and the current visit to Taiwan by the Irish cross-party delegation in October. He stressed that these frequent exchanges underscore the close parliamentary interaction between Taiwan and Ireland and reflect a relationship as close as that of a family.
Vice President Chiang noted that although Taiwan and Ireland are geographically distant, they are closely connected by shared values. Ireland was the first stop of his European visit in September, during which he personally experienced Ireland’s strong support for Taiwan and the warmth of its people. Vice President Chiang also expressed his appreciation to Deputy Speaker McGuinness for his gracious hospitality and recalled that during the trip, he encountered Taiwanese youth participating in working-holiday programs in Ireland—an example highlighting the growing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Vice President Chiang emphasized that Ireland and Taiwan are both island nations renowned for their high-tech industries who share core values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. He expressed gratitude to the Irish Parliament for repeatedly voicing support for Taiwan and to the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association for their sincere friendship. Vice President Chiang conveyed his support for deepening exchanges between Taiwan and Ireland in areas including technology, education, culture, and trade, and expressed hope that parliamentarians from both sides would continue working together to advance bilateral relations.
Erin McGreehan, head of the delegation and a member of the Irish House of Representatives, thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for their warm hospitality. She said this was the delegation members’ first visit to Taiwan and that they had been deeply impressed by the kindness and friendliness of the Taiwanese people. Representative McGreehan mentioned that though Taiwan and Ireland are geographically distant, as fellow island nations, both look outward to the world, uphold shared values, and place great importance on human rights. She expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, education, industry, technology, and talent exchanges, thereby building an even closer partnership. Representative McGreehan also noted that Ireland is willing to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
She further noted that just as Taiwan faces challenges due to its geopolitical position, approximately 75 percent of the world’s subsea cables pass through waters off Ireland, carrying massive volumes of global internet traffic. Protecting subsea cables has therefore become a key issue for Ireland. She expressed hope that Ireland and Taiwan could further exchange experiences and cooperate on the setup, deployment, and protection of subsea cables.
Legislator Chen stated that with over forty years of military service and experience as a former president of the National Defense University, he deeply understands the importance of education. Legislator Chen noted that Taiwan is currently connected to other countries by fourteen subsea cables, including cables operated by Google that pass through waters near Taiwan. Legislator Chen said that Taiwan is actively applying advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to the detection, management, and protection of subsea cables, and he suggested that Taiwan and Ireland could further enhance exchanges and cooperation in this area.
Legislator Kuo warmly welcomed the Irish delegation to Taiwan and noted that democracy, freedom, and human rights are core values jointly upheld by Taiwan and Ireland. She said that the two sides have maintained close cooperation in areas such as trade, talent exchanges, and the semiconductor industry, creating further development opportunities for young professionals and start-up enterprises.
Legislator Chen pointed out that Taiwan is facing a declining birthrate and a low-fertility crisis, which may affect the future labor force and the sustainability of its social welfare system. Ireland, by contrast, has a relatively higher fertility rate among EU countries. She expressed hope that both sides could strengthen exchanges on issues such as reproductive technologies, surrogacy legislation, and childcare, learning from Ireland’s experience.
The two sides then exchanged commemorative gifts and engaged in extensive discussions on issues including the legalization of surrogacy, efforts to facilitate the reopening of an Irish representative office in Taiwan, and accelerating negotiations on a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA). Delegation member George Lawlor concluded the meeting by performing the Irish folk song “Danny Boy,” captivating the audience with his melodious singing and bringing the one-hour meeting to a successful close.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang began by extending a warm welcome to the cross-party delegation of members of the Irish House of Representatives on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜). He said he was honored to meet the delegation again following the Reception of the Formosa Club’s Annual Conference held earlier that week. Vice President Chiang mentioned that over the past three months, parliamentarians from Taiwan and Ireland have met on three occasions, including a visit from Ireland to Taiwan in July 2025 led by Deputy Speaker John McGuinness, a cross-party delegation visit from Taiwan to Ireland led by Vice President Chiang in September, and the current visit to Taiwan by the Irish cross-party delegation in October. He stressed that these frequent exchanges underscore the close parliamentary interaction between Taiwan and Ireland and reflect a relationship as close as that of a family.
Vice President Chiang noted that although Taiwan and Ireland are geographically distant, they are closely connected by shared values. Ireland was the first stop of his European visit in September, during which he personally experienced Ireland’s strong support for Taiwan and the warmth of its people. Vice President Chiang also expressed his appreciation to Deputy Speaker McGuinness for his gracious hospitality and recalled that during the trip, he encountered Taiwanese youth participating in working-holiday programs in Ireland—an example highlighting the growing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Vice President Chiang emphasized that Ireland and Taiwan are both island nations renowned for their high-tech industries who share core values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. He expressed gratitude to the Irish Parliament for repeatedly voicing support for Taiwan and to the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association for their sincere friendship. Vice President Chiang conveyed his support for deepening exchanges between Taiwan and Ireland in areas including technology, education, culture, and trade, and expressed hope that parliamentarians from both sides would continue working together to advance bilateral relations.
Erin McGreehan, head of the delegation and a member of the Irish House of Representatives, thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for their warm hospitality. She said this was the delegation members’ first visit to Taiwan and that they had been deeply impressed by the kindness and friendliness of the Taiwanese people. Representative McGreehan mentioned that though Taiwan and Ireland are geographically distant, as fellow island nations, both look outward to the world, uphold shared values, and place great importance on human rights. She expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, education, industry, technology, and talent exchanges, thereby building an even closer partnership. Representative McGreehan also noted that Ireland is willing to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
She further noted that just as Taiwan faces challenges due to its geopolitical position, approximately 75 percent of the world’s subsea cables pass through waters off Ireland, carrying massive volumes of global internet traffic. Protecting subsea cables has therefore become a key issue for Ireland. She expressed hope that Ireland and Taiwan could further exchange experiences and cooperate on the setup, deployment, and protection of subsea cables.
Legislator Chen stated that with over forty years of military service and experience as a former president of the National Defense University, he deeply understands the importance of education. Legislator Chen noted that Taiwan is currently connected to other countries by fourteen subsea cables, including cables operated by Google that pass through waters near Taiwan. Legislator Chen said that Taiwan is actively applying advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to the detection, management, and protection of subsea cables, and he suggested that Taiwan and Ireland could further enhance exchanges and cooperation in this area.
Legislator Kuo warmly welcomed the Irish delegation to Taiwan and noted that democracy, freedom, and human rights are core values jointly upheld by Taiwan and Ireland. She said that the two sides have maintained close cooperation in areas such as trade, talent exchanges, and the semiconductor industry, creating further development opportunities for young professionals and start-up enterprises.
Legislator Chen pointed out that Taiwan is facing a declining birthrate and a low-fertility crisis, which may affect the future labor force and the sustainability of its social welfare system. Ireland, by contrast, has a relatively higher fertility rate among EU countries. She expressed hope that both sides could strengthen exchanges on issues such as reproductive technologies, surrogacy legislation, and childcare, learning from Ireland’s experience.
The two sides then exchanged commemorative gifts and engaged in extensive discussions on issues including the legalization of surrogacy, efforts to facilitate the reopening of an Irish representative office in Taiwan, and accelerating negotiations on a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA). Delegation member George Lawlor concluded the meeting by performing the Irish folk song “Danny Boy,” captivating the audience with his melodious singing and bringing the one-hour meeting to a successful close.