Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was not sure of the format of the meeting. A question that springs to mind on trade is related to the remit of the Department. Am I correct in stating many of the staff in the embassies will be transferred home for the EU Presidency? What impact will this have on trade? Some consular offices have only one or two members of staff. At a time when there is pressure on us to promote trade, what will be the impact on the Department? If one loses a vice consul, is pressure then placed on the consul in any given area? I am thinking of areas such as San Francisco, which is to lose staff. A considerable proportion of the trade between Ireland and the United States is associated with the region incorporating San Francisco. If we are withdrawing staff from this area, what will be the impact? People refer to the positive role of embassy staffs, including individuals, in some areas with regard to the promotion of trade.

With a view to saving money, could the staff of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and consular services be placed in one building such that we would have a one-stop shop? There are cost implications but, in the longer term, it would be ideal. Everyone would be singing from the same hymn sheet.