Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Generally speaking, my own view, for what it is worth, is that Department missions are where the action is. There will always be specific issues where the EU, for example, has envoys. Eamon Gilmore would have been the European Union envoy on the Colombia peace process. The fact he was a former politician should not disqualify him. In fact, it made him a good candidate. They were very appreciative of his contribution to the Colombian peace process as an envoy of the European Union. I do not have any ideological opposition to the idea of an envoy if it has a specific purpose-----