Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The doubling of Ireland's global footprint by 2025 began with the recent Government decision to open new embassies in Santiago, Chile; Bogotá, Colombia; Amman in Jordan and Wellington in New Zealand, and new consulates in Vancouver in western Canada and Mumbai in India, on a phased basis from 2018.

Our expanding network will enhance Ireland's visibility globally, extend our influence and position in the context of trade and investment growth in new and existing markets. It will also benefit travelling citizens and engagement with the diaspora. Expanding our presence and influence abroad is also about a broader redoubling of our effort in the fight against global poverty and hunger and for sustainable development via the Irish Aid programme.

It also involves reaching out to our diaspora and exploring creative new platforms that we could use to expand Ireland's influence overseas.

The Department of the Taoiseach is leading a steering group of relevant Departments and agencies that is preparing a plan to be considered by Government by the end of the year. The Team Ireland Conference, an initiative of my Department, is meeting today to explore ways to strengthen co-ordination across Departments and agencies involved in trade and investment to help us realise our ambition.

The question of costs is being considered as part of the annual departmental budgetary process, including with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Any additional expenditure will be consistent with value-for-money principles and provide clear benefits for the State and will depend on a range of factors, including staff and accommodation needs. The €2 million allocation in budget 2018 will cover the initial outlays.

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