Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Vacancies at ambassadorial level occurred at the embassies in the Holy See on 11 June, in Brussels on 31 August and in Canberra and Stockholm on 22 and 30 September, respectively. As the Deputy will be aware, last week the Government decided to close the Irish Embassy to the Holy See. It also made arrangements to fill the other above-mentioned vacancies and others that will occur in the next few months. The new ambassadors will take up duty as soon as possible. There are no first secretary vacancies at missions abroad. There has been a reduction in staff numbers across my Department arising from retirements and restrictions on promotion and recruitment necessitated by the current budgetary pressures.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy with the Tánaiste's reply.