Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Denis Staunton. I will be careful not to overly repeat what has been said already. I believe the activities of all of our embassies are very important in presenting an image of Ireland abroad. I can give examples of how important this role is. The importance of making links at government level with other member states helped to bring about some positive developments for this country. That was actively done by the Government. One can generalise that argument in a broader sense in terms of our international relations with other countries and other people, not alone for trade but for other policy areas, such as human rights and international relations. There are sensitivities. Quite often we experience the need for delicacy. Last week we had a trade delegation to the Middle East and there was some controversy around it. There are sensitivities around it as well.

The representatives of the chambers of commerce were very emphatic when they appeared before the committee that no Minister should be in Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. It offers such an opportunity to promote trade and business with this country. Does Mr. Staunton have a view on whether the embassy in the Vatican should be reopened? We have much contact with the Republic of China, Taipei. Obviously we do not have diplomatic relations, as there are international reasons for not having them, but there is a friendship with their very good diplomats. Has Mr. Staunton a view on how that relationship could be developed? Has he information on how relations are developing between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China?