Mr. Niall Burgess:

Deputy Farrell asked about property. I figure it is always going to be a mixed portfolio and it will look a little different depending on where we are. In Cairo, for example, where we have concerns around security and the safety of our staff at the embassy, we are co-located with the Dutch. We take tremendous benefits from that, not only the natural benefits from working with closely with another EU partner but from some of the systems the Dutch bring because they have a foreign Ministry of scale. One of the things that we look at as we open more embassies is the option of co-location.

It makes absolute sense in the areas where we have major strategic interests and where the perspective is for rents to continue increasing. Japan is always going to be an important relationship and platform for Ireland. That is where we begin in the short term. Anyway, I completely agree: more often than not when we consider the arguments for purchase the long-term benefits are significant and weight in its favour.

There are some issues around accommodation. Many of our embassies are very small and families have different needs. When I was in New York I had my two children with me. We were a family. I was succeeded by an officer who did not have children. We were in accommodation that was rented as standard by the Department. Sometimes the needs of the individual officer vary as well and in smaller locations it may make sense to look at short-term rentals. The arguments for purchase in the longer-term generally stack up – I agree with that.