Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Crowe has made the point that we should invite an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the procedure. How can it happen in Canada and not in other countries, including the United States? As far as I am aware there are no set rules and regulations. I think a lot depends on the ambassador and other factors. That is not very satisfactory. In this day and age we should have some idea. I do not see anything wrong in making certain that every state in the United States should have some representation on behalf of the Irish people. I support Senator Daly and congratulate him on raising this matter. Let us have officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the committee and tell us what criteria are used, if any, to appoint a consul or whether it is at the whim of the ambassador of the day.