Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The mission of my Department is to serve the Irish people, to promote their values and advance their prosperity abroad and to provide the Government with the capabilities, analysis and influence to ensure that Ireland derives the maximum benefit from all areas of its external engagement. My Department’s statement of strategy 2015-17, laid before this House on 14 April, outlines how we intend to achieve our high level goals in the coming years. These goals are rooted in the priority areas set out in the Government’s recent policy review, The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World. Our five goals are: to serve our people at home and abroad and to promote reconciliation and co-operation; to work for a fairer, more just, secure and sustainable world; to advance Ireland’s prosperity by promoting our economic interests internationally; to protect and advance Ireland’s values and interests in Europe; and to strengthen our influence and capacity to deliver our goals.

I know that the Deputy has a particular interest in the prosperity goal. I am sure he will agree that the vital work of restoring our international reputation, promoting our economic recovery and the creation of jobs must be at the heart of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with our embassy network playing a particularly crucial role. These goals are intertwined and support one another. I look forward to leading my Department in continuing to deliver on them for the Irish people.

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