TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the Dáil from Ireland, John McGuinness, Ireland's deputy speaker of parliament, led a cross-party parliamentary delegation to Taiwan Sunday (July 20) in a significant diplomatic visit. This marks the first visit by an Irish parliamentary group since the country's general elections in November 2024, highlighting renewed parliamentary engagement between the two democracies. The high-level delegation underscores growing international parliamentary interest in Taiwan amid evolving regional dynamics and cross-strait tensions. The visit represents a notable development in Ireland-Taiwan relations following Ireland's recent electoral changes and new parliamentary composition.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) confirmed the delegation will meet with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and attend a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) during their diplomatic visit. The Irish parliamentarians plan to visit Deputy Speaker of Taiwan's parliament Chiang Chi-chen (江啟臣), among other government officials, demonstrating the breadth of their engagement. The comprehensive itinerary reflects the delegation's commitment to engaging with Taiwan's highest levels of government across executive and legislative branches. These high-level meetings underscore the significance both sides place on strengthening bilateral parliamentary and diplomatic relationships.
The delegation includes Malcolm Byrne, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Barry Ward, Chair of the Joint Committee on EU Affairs, Ken O'Flynn, and Senator Teresa Costello, representing diverse parliamentary expertise. Byrne and Ward also serve as co-chairs of the Irish co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a global coalition of lawmakers focused on China-related issues. The delegation aims to discuss international strategic issues, regional security, Taiwan-Ireland economic and trade cooperation, and technological innovation during their comprehensive visit. These discussions reflect growing international parliamentary coordination on regional security challenges and technological cooperation opportunities. ◼
