Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. We opened an embassy in Teheran in 1976 and we had one there until November or December 2011 when Eamon Gilmore was the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. We also closed the embassy to the Holy See and one other embassy at the time. In total, three embassies were closed. We argued that we closed them for money-saving reasons. It was not a great argument, but it was some argument given that so many less well-off people in Ireland were being put through austerity and there was some case to be made. The Government now boasts that we have one of the fastest growing economies in Europe so that argument is gone. The truth is that exports to Iran have doubled in the past 12 months to €140 million from €70 million and the Iranians have worked really hard to increase trade.

It is a no-brainer. The Government is in favour of communication but the Iranians would argue there is not enough communication or dialogue, and there is huge potential for it. As far as I am concerned, the Americans have lost the plot in the entire region for a long period of time. They have destabilised the region in a dramatic way. Iran and Syria are two of the few countries they do not actually control. American pressure should not be an influencing factor for us.

I was in Malawi recently. I went out to a refugee camp and some prisons out there. I met Gerry Cunningham, the Irish ambassador. I did not go there to see what the Irish were doing, but it was very interesting and the work they are doing is very impressive. It was very commendable. It makes so much sense for Ireland to be involved in such places. Malawi is one of the poorest nations on the planet. I agree 100% with us working with them, but likewise it is a no-brainer that we should be working with Iran.

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