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

I also believe it is worthwhile, which is why I was looking to create the position and appoint somebody suitable to it. Many other countries are doing this and they have been doing so for quite some time. We were simply looking at what other countries were doing, trying to get value for money and trying to put skilled people into positions where they could advocate internationally from an Irish perspective. That is what special envoys do. They are not normal employees of the Department per sebecause they are normally asked to do a specific job in a specific timeframe for the Government to raise the profile of a certain area. Most European and western countries use this tool and regularly appoint special envoys, including our neighbours to the east and west. US President Biden has appointed a special envoy specifically for the promotion of LGBTQ rights this year. That is what we wanted to do but it clearly did not work out too well. People know why that was and so a review is under way to fix that issue. It is hoped we will be able to use the important tool of special envoys in the future and with more credibility.

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