Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish ambassadors there are currently. [21948/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department maintains a network of 75 overseas missions - 57 embassies, seven multilateral missions and 11 consulates general and other offices. It also maintains offices in Armagh and Belfast. Heads of mission carry different titles, including ambassador, permanent representative and consul general. There are currently 61 officials with the rank of ambassador, including a number serving as permanent representatives to international organisations.

Ireland's diplomatic missions and consular offices are dedicated to the pursuit of our interests abroad and to enhancing our international profile. They are the external offices of the State, promoting Government policies and participating in the work of international organisations.

Diplomatic and consular missions perform a range of representational, promotional and reporting functions, including deepening Ireland's relations with host governments and advancing our international priorities and objectives; advancing Ireland's economic interests through working with others in the public and private sectors to expand trade and tourism, and inward investment in Ireland; reporting on political, economic, legal, commercial and EU developments; overseeing the implementation of programmes in developing countries funded by the Government's development aid programme, Irish Aid; and providing assistance to Irish citizens abroad and maintaining contact with local Irish communities.

Missions accredited to multilateral organisations such as the United Nations present Ireland's views in negotiations and debate within these organisations. The role of the permanent representation to the EU in Brussels is to represent the State in its interface with the EU institutions and in negotiations at official level in the Council of Ministers. It also advises on negotiations at political level in the Council of Ministers and at the European Council.

The State has been very well served by the current system, which draws on the skills and professionalism of dedicated career civil servants. Successive Governments have acknowledged the wealth of experience offered by our diplomatic officers and the contribution they have made in the promotion of Ireland's interests and values at international level.

In the current challenging environment, it is all the more important that the State's diplomatic resources are used to the optimum effect, particularly to support the Government's efforts to achieve economic recovery. This is a major priority for the Department of Foreign Affairs and its heads of mission abroad.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Minister that the system has served us well and that it is very beneficial. Recently he spoke about enhancing the role of the embassies, perhaps as regards promoting Irish industry abroad. I may be incorrect in that, but I saw a report to that effect. Would he agree that perhaps there is merit in putting all of these bodies under the one roof? In addition to dealing with the diplomatic aspects of foreign affairs, perhaps trade could be linked to the embassies to a greater extent, combining offices abroad - whether it is An Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland or whatever - in one grouping.

We had a delegation from Kenya here last week and they were wondering whether we were going to re-establish the embassy there. Are there any plans to create new ambassadors? My final question is about a subject I have raised before, namely, the idea of looking outside the diplomatic corps for a percentage of our ambassadors. Perhaps this is not something the Department would welcome, but many countries use this model successfully. As Ireland exports so much and is seeking to create a brand for itself, this could be particularly apposite. Former Taoiseach, John Bruton, for example, has done an excellent job for the European Union in the United States. I am sure that many in the secretariat in Brussels were not supportive of that appointment at the time. I imagine the former Deputy and leader of the Labour Party, Dick Spring, would make a great Irish ambassador to the United States, given his connections there - perhaps we should think outside the box and not be strangled by the ropes of history.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of Kenya, there are no immediate plans, and we are examining the entire configuration of Irish embassies at the moment, reviewing our strengths and weaknesses, with a view to establishing our future strategy and where we should be represented, within existing resources, given the economic climate. Recently we announced the establishment of an embassy in Abu Dhabi, for example, as part of that process.

In terms of the broader question, the present system has worked. Sometimes that does not sound trendy, and might seem to be a defence of the status quo, but the idea of career diplomacy with a build-up of experience and capacity, understanding the broad range of functions that have to be performed demands background education, capacity experience and learning from others within the service. There is enormous strength in the system we have had in place since the foundation of the State in terms of the quality of the Irish diplomatic service. We would be foolish, in my view, to tinker unnecessarily with that.

In terms of the Deputy's point about greater synergies between other State agencies and the economic and other spheres, he is right. In some instances we have created what is termed "an Ireland House effect", where we house the various bodies on one campus. For example, the permanent representation in Brussels would house all Government agencies under one roof, to conduct all the work relevant to Brussels.

The Deputy mentioned the possibility of recruiting outside and I agree that the former Taoiseach, John Bruton has been an excellent EU ambassador to the United States. I would not say, however, that his appointment was that far outside the box, in so far as he was a politician of distinction with long service in this House, who would have been aware of the European Union and the role of the diplomatic service. That was not a case of a person going cold into a new role. In terms of the private sector, we should have to consider that very carefully. Bringing people in cold from outside may have a superficial attraction, but it could also be laced with complications. Political partiality, too, is a key issue. I should hate to see the Irish diplomatic service ultimately become a buddy system that would reflect the spoils of office, for example, with the appointment of an ambassador being dependent on being well in with the particular parties in office. We need to be careful about that.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There is much merit in what the Minister has said, but would he consider the concept? I believe we have completely closed the door on this option. Would he not agree that the United States, for example, has had some very successful ambassadors in Ireland, notwithstanding that our system does not allow the spoils of office to be shared among individual political supporters in this context? Would he not agree that America has had some very successful ambassadors here who came in cold? People can be picked depending on the political climate of the time and Ms Jean Kennedy-Smith, for instance, was an ideal ambassador for the time of the peace process as was Ambassador Foley, from the viewpoint of creating business. It does not mean that we would discard the good that we have, but rather that it should be supplemented by thinking outside the box. Would he give it some consideration, notwithstanding-----

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Would the Minister exclude the two main parties?

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That is why I picked former Deputy Spring.

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Michael D. for ambassador.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That would frighten me even more.

Present company excluded of course, Deputy Higgins would make a fine ambassador and a fine exponent of foreign policy. I am not comparing one system with another. The American system is much different from ours and has been since its inception, but then it is a different type of jurisdiction and can bring different types of resources into play when a particular person is appointed an ambassador. Ireland is a small State that has played a noble and distinctive role in international affairs, largely because we have invested in diplomacy in terms of the human resource behind this function, ranging from consular initiatives right across to diplomatic, political and economic endeavours. I am a strong defender of the present situation We can always add value and improve, however, and I look forward to the fuller fleshing out of the ideas Deputy Timmins is articulating this afternoon. No doubt they will find their way into a policy document some day when we can discuss these issues in further detail.