Mr. Louis Maguire:

There are one or two areas in particular. For example, during a recent meeting with the Algerian ambassador in London, he suggested that Ireland should open a trade office in Algeria and he would reciprocate by opening a trade office in Dublin. He told me that while he was aware things were not 100% in Ireland, one person could run such an office and there would at least be someone on the ground who could keep people here advised. Morocco is another place with which our trade is improving and there is vast potential there, as is the case in Tunisia as well. Libya is coming back. While we had great trade with Libya up to last year, it died off for a while, but I am glad to state it is back again. I acknowledge the Deputy's point that Ireland cannot afford to have embassies in every country, but surely we can afford to have a one-person trade office. If we cannot afford that, we may as well pull down the curtains.