Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

People can cross departmental lines. People move from other Departments into the Department of Foreign Affairs. For example, our ambassador in China would have been a Department of agriculture vet originally, which was very useful in the recent issues in China relating to veterinary matters, Irish beef and so on. Her experience was clearly on hand and very valuable. This is my second stint in the Department of Foreign Affairs. In all our lives, we build up experience on the job. Many young people, for example, worked on the Security Council during the two years of our stint. The experience they have got as young people is invaluable. You do not pick that up later on in life, coming from business, sport or whatever, the contacts and the understanding of how the UN works. Experience matters in diplomacy. It is like any other discipline in life; you learn on the job but you also have to learn the skills. I often feel that in our academic sphere, we do not give enough attention and focus to the value of diplomacy itself. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue.

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