I read with some concern last week the Estimates for the Department of Foreign Affairs and perhaps the Minister of State will clarify one or two matters in that regard. During visits to the accession states last year, the Taoiseach and the President announced that diplomatic representatives are to be based in Slovenia, Estonia and Slovakia. I believe a decision has been taken, in principle, to establish resident embassies in all the accession states. The Estimates indicate that the budget for the Department of Foreign Affairs will decrease by 5% next year. It would be helpful if the Minister of State would clarify whether our intention to establish resident embassies in the accession states has been deferred by virtue of the decisions taken by the Departments of Finance and Foreign Affairs. I also noted with concern that the specific heading in the Estimates which deals with pre-accession assistance to EU candidate countries has been cut by 8%. I am not sure that this measure sends out the preferred signal in the immediate aftermath of the Nice treaty referendum.