Mr. Denis Staunton:

I understand what the Deputy is saying. I am not sure but on balance it is probably a welcome move to combine trade and foreign affairs.

Sometimes one needs to get the embassy involved if one wants to make a trade deal. Our relationships with many of the countries with which we trade are complicated. What one does not want is somebody bulldozing in with some kind of commercial proposition which can upset a delicate balance that may be more important to our interests. All in all, if they are not together, and I do not think that there is a problem in their being together, they need to work closely together.