Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 24 June 2021

Public Accounts Committee

2018 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Control of Humanitarian Assistance Funding
2019 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade

9:30 am

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We are getting into very short time slots now so I will ask a series of questions on one issue. Mr. Burgess might give me very brief replies, please. There is always a discussion about leasing versus ownership and trying to get the balance right. I want to focus on Ireland House in Tokyo. I understand that is still under construction. It is for the embassy and will obviously host State agencies such as IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and so on. I understand there was a significant discount from the Japanese Government. Mr. Burgess might tell us what the site initially cost and what discount was achieved. Were other sites shortlisted? How was the site identified? Would, for example, IDA Ireland make a contribution or does it exclusively come from the Department of Foreign Affairs' budget? Has Covid-19 had an impact on the delivery of the embassy?

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