Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised)
2:40 pm
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Yes, but I want to make a point. How much money is spent on having an honorary consul in a country as opposed to having a small diplomatic mission? It was a narrow view not to reopen that embassy. At every meeting we attended the people expressed regret that we do not have an embassy. If we want to trade and promote relations, and Iran is a main player in the region at other levels, we need an embassy in that country. I was disappointed to read about resource constraints in the Tánaiste's speech in terms of opening other diplomatic missions.