Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will expand on the announcement made by the Taoiseach regarding the Government's plans to double Ireland's global footprint by 2025; the implications for his Department and preparations made for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39915/17]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach spoke about Ireland's global footprint to 2025 at an Enterprise Ireland breakfast in Toronto during his visit to Canada in August. I ask the Minister of State to expand on the announcement made by the Taoiseach about the Government's plan to double Ireland's footprint, to outline the implications for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and to elaborate on the preparations that have been made for same. In particular, has preparatory work been carried out and is there a plan, including a schedule and costings? Most importantly, was the Department actually aware of the announcement in advance of the Taoiseach making it in Canada?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Brien for raising this issue. The ambition set out by the Taoiseach to double Ireland’s global footprint by 2025 reflects the scale and the complexity of the challenges we face in the years ahead. These include Brexit related challenges but also those from growing protectionism internationally, the need to continue the fight for justice, peace, equality and for sustainable development.

Our response includes the further diversification of our markets for trade and investment and the building of alliances to underpin the rules based international trading system that has served smaller countries like Ireland so well. It must also include a renewed commitment to the fight against global poverty and hunger, protecting human rights, and to United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Now, more than ever, Ireland needs a strong voice internationally to promote our values and interests. We are determined to play our part in support of multilateralism at this time of significant global instability, as reflected in our candidature for membership of the United Nations Security Council in 2021/2022.

Following the Taoiseach’s announcement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has begun to examine options to expand significantly our footprint and influence internationally, in consultation with other Departments and agencies. This includes augmenting our existing diplomatic presence overseas as well as, in some cases, opening new missions where most impactful. At the same time we have to ensure that the vital service and policy supports at headquarters are up to the task. Any additional expenditure must be consistent with value for money principles and provide clear benefits for the State.

Decisions will also be guided by Ireland Connected, the trade and investment strategy launched last March. This whole-of-Government framework provides direction for trade and investment priorities to 2025. At its heart is the need for policy alignment, co-ordinated action and complementarity in delivering our goals. These include greater investment, tourism and trade, stronger links with our diaspora and enhanced global visibility.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Just before Deputy O'Brien responds, I am sure the House would wish me to congratulate the Minister of State on her recent marriage and to wish her every good health and happiness.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Thank you very much.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I was going to be very difficult with the Minister of State. How can I do that now? Congratulations.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Thank you.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate her on her wedding but not on her answer. With all due respect, I know the Minister of State is stepping in for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, today but the response she has given is pretty much the same response I received to a parliamentary question last week. I welcome the announcement by the Taoiseach of a commitment to increase our diplomatic and business footprint across the world. Currently we have 61 embassies, seven multilateral missions and 11 consulate generals. We have just over 80 offices across the world and the Taoiseach has said that he wants to double that. If we double that, we will have 160 offices. What plans have actually been put in place? What costings have been done? Are there any priorities and if so, where? He said that the time span runs to 2025. When will we see the first new embassies open? I very much fear that this is just another one of Leo Varadkar's announcements, made for publicity. He was in Canada with his friend and he announced that he was going to double our global footprint. We have asked several serious questions. While we welcome the announcement, we are trying to get a handle on whether there is anything behind this but in this instance, there does not appear to be. I want to know what meetings have taken place between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of the Taoiseach. Have we any draft plan? Will the Minister be submitting a plan to the foreign affairs committee or to this House for discussion? When will the first new embassies actually open?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is correct that Ireland currently has 80 diplomatic and consular offices. We have 961 diplomatic staff employed abroad and have relations with 178 different countries. When the Taoiseach speaks about doubling our footprint, that does not necessarily mean doubling the number of offices or doubling the budget. It is about ensuring that what we have currently is working and that we can make things work more efficiently. For example, in a city where we have four or five different offices operating in four or five different buildings, we might be able to make that work better by bringing everybody together and making sure they are connected properly.

In terms of the time frame and making that work, the Department is currently working on a review of what we currently have, what is working and what is not, as well as examining where we can expand our footprint. We expect the initial report to be published by November. I am not sure whether that would go directly to a committee or whether it would be published by the Minister himself, but we should see the initial report by November.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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That seems to be a departure from what the Taoiseach said. In any person's language, doubling is doubling and it is as simple as that. We lag behind comparable European countries like Denmark or Belgium in terms of the size of our network of embassies. When we heard the Taoiseach's announcement, it was something that we welcomed but now we are hearing that doubling does not necessarily mean that. It might mean a consolidation, using offices differently and so on. What I would really like to know is whether the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade was actually made aware in advance that the Taoiseach was going to make the announcement, given that it has massive implications for his Department. Is work underway to identify regions, countries or markets for Ireland to expand into? Have additional resources been allocated for next year to start this doubling of the footprint? The response from the Minister of State today tells me that there is nothing behind this announcement. That is not a great surprise, I might add but if the Taoiseach and the Government are committing to expanding the diplomatic footprint, they must do it and show us the plan. They cannot just announce it when they are abroad to make themselves look good in front of another prime minister. This is too serious. Ireland needs to look further afield, particularly with Brexit happening. We need to be looking at new markets and I would welcome that but we need concrete answers.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy has said, Ireland is a small, open economy. We need to promote our own interests proactively on the international stage, particularly in the context of Brexit. The Taoiseach has spoken very openly about the possibility of offices in New Zealand, Vancouver and Mumbai, to name but a few. We cannot get into the specifics at the moment because we do not yet know the locations for new missions. These locations will be identified on the basis of where they will have the greatest impact and the greatest potential to deliver in terms of the State's economic and political interests. There will obviously be some element of additional cost involved and that will have to be discussed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A plan is being put in place. A review is underway at the moment and the Minister will be able to announce the initial stages of that review by November.