Martin McAleese (Independent)

I am happy to add my support to the motion mentioned by Senator Byrne in regard to a papal visit for the simple reason that it is a good opportunity for the Government to reassure the Irish people that our continuing diplomatic relations with the Holy See, the Vatican, are as close and as cordial as they were prior to the decision to close the embassy to the Holy See. On that point, I request the Leader to ask the Tánaiste whether the decision not to maintain a resident ambassador to the Holy See was a political decision or was based on the recommendation of the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade?

As we heard, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will be in this House this afternoon to make a statement and respond to questions from Members. However, due to time constraints there will be limited opportunities for Members to make substantial interventions at that time. As a result, I ask the Leader to put a number of questions to the Tánaiste. We all appreciate the important role the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has to play at this time to advance Ireland's interests regionally and globally. I would like to raise a few strategic issues regarding the work of the Department. The past year has been a significant year of change for the Department, probably the most important since its creation. My first question relates to two functions of the Department, first, the transfer of certain trade functions to the Department from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and, second, the possible transfer of responsibility for passports to the Department of Justice and Equality. Regarding the transfer last summer of the trade function, it would be interesting to hear from the Tánaiste how this is working in practice, what benefits it has brought in terms of marketing Ireland abroad through our embassies, how this additional responsibility is being managed, if there are resource implications or if staff were transferred from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Regarding passports, the programme for Government envisaged the transfer of the passport service to the Department of Justice and Equality with a view to ultimately operating it as an independent agency under the aegis of that Department. I understand the Tánaiste is on record as saying that it is more appropriate for an identity document such as a passport to be issued by the Department of the Justice and Equality given that it has responsibility for citizenship law. I would be concerned that the transfer of this service could have a negative impact on the ease of access to passport services in particular to citizens abroad.