Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

There are two issues of which we must be respectful. The first is to be respectful of the position of the Northern Ireland Executive because this envoy was appointed to Northern Ireland. It was not an appointment to the island as a whole and therefore we must be first respectful of that. I have had a number of discussions with both the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister and the leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland and this issue was not raised by them as something that needed to be pursued.

Second, the appointment of an envoy or any diplomatic representation, whether it is in the political or economic sphere, is a matter for the Government. It is something that we must be mindful and respectful of in that this is a matter for the United States Administration. It is a matter for the Secretary of State. I have a big agenda for discussion with the Secretary of State, much of which relates to Northern Ireland and includes economic support and support for the Ireland Funds, and I am mindful of maintaining a degree of respect as to whether she wants to make a similar appointment in the future.

See this speech in context