Sir, – In a landmark case in 1987, the Supreme Court of Ireland affirmed that “the Government is the sole organ of the State in the field of international relations.”
This authority is explicitly conferred by article 29.4 of the Constitution, which mandates that executive power regarding external relations be exercised by, or on the authority of the government.
Given that clear constitutional allocation of responsibility, it is a reasonable expectation of the international community that members of the Houses of the Oireachtas should ensure their actions align with the State’s official foreign policy.
When travelling abroad, the privileges enjoyed by a TD extend far beyond their personal lives and carry a heavy weight of public responsibility.
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Freedom of speech and travel should not serve as a pretext for Oireachtas members to use their official titles to visit China’s Taiwan province, to meet self-styled “leadership” or to speak on Ireland’s behalf. This is particularly concerning when such travel was fully paid by some entities and framed as an official parliamentary mission.
By failing to clarify their views are personal, members risk misappropriating the authority of the State and contradicting the code of conduct , which mandates that members must exercise the influence to advance the public interest.
There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The abiding commitment of the international community to the one-China principle is unshakeable.
Nothing will stop China from complete reunification. Ireland has maintained a consistent commitment to the one-China policy since the establishment of diplomatic relations with China. This position was reaffirmed in the 2012 joint statement, in which Ireland reiterated its firm and unwavering commitment to the one-China policy and its opposition to all comments and propositions aiming at undermining China’s territorial integrity.
In his recent meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Chinese president Xi Jinping noted that both nations are peace-loving, open, inclusive, self-reliant and enterprising. The two countries achieved independence and modernisation through the struggle and hard work of the people. There is a reason to believe Ireland can understand and support China’s efforts toward national reunification, thereby strengthening the political foundation for more fruitful co-operation between our two countries. – Yours, etc,
ZHAO XIYUAN,
Ambassador of China to Ireland,
Dublin 4
