By Dimitri Bruyas, The China Post with agencies
The official was responding to a United Daily News report that morning, which said that the MOFA would designate another candidate to serve the country in Ireland and replace Parris Chang, or assign Chang to another post.
The foreign ministry appointed Chang as Taiwan's representative to Ireland at a ceremony held in Taipei on Sept. 5, but so far he has been barred from assuming his post in Dublin because Taiwan unilaterally announced his appointment without receiving prior consent from authorities in Ireland.
Chang is a former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representative to the U.S. and a former deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
"The MOFA is still discussing Chang's nomination with the Irish authorities," said Yeh, noting that countries maintaining no formal diplomatic relations do not usually request approval before appointing envoys.
The designation and the swearing in of Chang followed established procedures, she added.
Further, Yeh dismissed reports that Chang could claim the salary of a representative, saying that he has yet to receive remuneration since his nomination.
Responding to a local cable report quoting the Irish Foreign Ministry as saying that it has not yet received any application from Chang, Yeh said that "this shows that Ireland has its difficulties."
Opposition Kuomintang 2008 presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, however, called upon the ruling party on Nov. 20 to stop nominating DPP party members to foreign diplomatic posts and trust career diplomats with years of experience to handle foreign relations.