Seanad debates

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Sean BarrettSean Barrett (Independent)

In welcoming the extension of the Tánaiste's Department to cover trade - we will wonder why we did not do that years ago - I question if there is enough economic expertise in the Department to assist the Tánaiste. The traditional division was that administrative officers did economics and went to other Departments and third secretaries tended to be in the area of arts and culture. I welcome the end of the split between them but I hope that the Tánaiste has the necessary economic expertise.

Another aspect about which I am concerned is that we have become increasing monolingual and language departments in the universities are being shut. As the Minister in charge with extending trade particularly towards BRIC countries, will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Education and Skills to end this linguistic isolation to assist the Tánaiste in increasing Ireland's profile worldwide.

Having asked those two questions, I compliment the Tánaiste. Our relationship with the United Kingdom has never been better. That goes back to the Maryville secretariat which was a fairly inhospitable place for people to be in Belfast in the dark years but matters have developed from that to the First Minister attending Gaelic football matches, and long may that progress continue. The Queen's visit was also a great a success. Also, our status in the United States is widely envied. Many other countries would wish to have something like St. Patrick's Day. That again is a tribute to the efforts over many years of our staff in Washington. I would like the Minister to take those plaudits back to his staff.

My questions relate to our economic expertise for this role and our linguistic expertise in a society which is turning its back on many other languages, foreign languages as we used to call them.

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