Written Answers Nos. 292-299
292. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); the status of the passport application; if the application will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37608/26]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application has been approved.
293. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport can be expedited for a person (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37683/26]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is actively reviewing the application and it will be approved as soon as all necessary checks are complete.
297. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the level of bi-lateral Ireland/Taiwan trade on an annual basis 2020-2025; the measures that will be introduced to support an increase in such trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37728/26]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy is contained in the tables below based on data available from the Central Statistics Office.
Table 1: Ireland's Trade in Goods with Taiwan for 2020-2025
|
|
Exports (Goods) EUR € million |
Imports (Goods) EUR € million |
Total Trade (Goods) EUR € million |
|
2020 |
467 |
563 |
1030 |
|
2021 |
348 |
809 |
1157 |
|
2022 |
505 |
1315 |
1820 |
|
2023 |
447 |
1229 |
1676 |
|
2024 |
373 |
2053 |
2426 |
|
2025 |
457 |
4305 |
4762
|
Table 2: Ireland's Trade in Services with Taiwan for 2020-2024
Figures for Ireland's trade in services are not yet available for 2025.
|
|
Exports (Services) EUR € million |
Imports (Services) EUR € million |
Total Trade (Services) EUR € million |
|
2020 |
1488 |
548 |
2036 |
|
2021 |
1505 |
610 |
2115 |
|
2022 |
1773 |
1148 |
2921 |
|
2023 |
1983 |
1280 |
3263 |
|
2024 |
2075 |
872 |
2947 |
As demonstrated by the data available from the Central Statistics Office, there has been a significant amount of economic activity between Ireland and Taiwan throughout the period from 2020 to 2025. In 2024 – the latest year for which full statistics on goods and services are available – the total value of trade between Ireland and Taiwan was €5.373 billion.
In terms of supporting these economic and trade links, IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment, manages the Taiwanese market from its Singapore office, and Enterprise Ireland, the agency responsible for enterprise development, manages the market from its office in Hong Kong.
It is important to recall that Ireland, along with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we recognise the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, this does not preclude the development of economic, trade, cultural, and people-to-people connections with Taiwan.
299. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade where Ireland is actively strengthening bilateral relations with a country, her views on whether it reasonable to ask how unresolved human rights cases involving Irish children are being addressed within that engagement, specifically with regard to Egypt; whether sufficient political and diplomatic weight is being applied to secure outcomes rather than assurances in the case of Irish citizen children separated from their mother; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37921/26]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that I am attentive to the specific case he refers to and receive regular updates on the matter. Officials in my Department including at the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo have provided extensive and sustained consular assistance over a number of years since this case emerged and it has been raised at the highest political and diplomatic levels. I can further assure the Deputy that officials in my Department are in frequent contact with the Irish citizen in this case.
In line with the Consular Assistance Charter, my Department is not in a position to provide legal advice, represent citizens legally or intervene in the judicial processes of another country. My Department has encouraged the Irish citizen concerned to continue to engage with their local legal representative who will be best placed to advise on the laws as they relate to their case.
Ireland enjoys strong bilateral relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt and last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. I held constructive talks in Cairo with my Egyptian counterpart in January 2026 and the Taoiseach met the Egyptian President as recently as last month. Given the nature of the consular case, I can assure the deputy that the matter was raised in both interactions. We have consistently raised the matter, at the highest level, in our bilateral contacts with Egypt.
While my Department cannot interfere in legal or custodial matters, my officials will continue to provide consular assistance to the citizen and to keep me informed on developments in this case.
