Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The committee has not discussed this matter yet but we do intend to discuss it in private session next week. The committee is anxious to have an input, to make a presentation and, probably, to hold hearings. Perhaps the Tánaiste's officials will liaise with the clerk to the committee in respect of this issue. The Tánaiste will be aware - from what transpired during the earlier part of the meeting - that we have a deep interest in this issue. I welcome the review, which is a very good idea. I hope the committee will be able to have an input and that its views will be taken on board.

I wish to ask a couple of questions before opening the floor to members. Our network of embassies are very important in the context of trade and our affairs abroad. Following our Presidency of the EU, the Tánaiste announced a review of our embassy network. Croatia is one of the newer member states of the EU and Ireland does not have an embassy there yet. I presume the need to open new embassies will be considered during the review. As the Tánaiste indicated, a new deal has just been completed in respect of Iran's nuclear capability. Ireland closed its embassy in Tehran some time ago and I presume it could potentially be reopened in the wake of the deal to which I refer. An issue which is, I suppose, to the forefront of many people's minds is that which relates to our Vatican Embassy. The latter was closed some time ago but, obviously, this matter could be revisited in the future. We would welcome positive developments in these areas because, as committee members, we are aware of the very important role our embassies abroad play in the context of trade, bilateral relations and working in conjunction with the development agencies. We know that our network is small and that only a few officials serve in each embassy. However, they have an important role to play. I accept that the officials in question are competing against their counterparts from the larger countries but it must be stated that they work really hard. Will the Tánaiste comment on these matters before I open the floor to members?