Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the recent opening in Dublin of the new embassy of Lesotho; the consideration he has given to opening an embassy in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6450/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government approved the opening of an embassy of Lesotho in Dublin in January 2003. The embassy was formally opened on Wednesday, 16 February 2005, by Prime Minister Mosisili of Lesotho. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, represented the Government at the opening ceremony.

Ireland has had resident diplomatic representation in Lesotho since an aid office was opened there in 1974. Ireland is currently represented by a consul general based in the capital, Maseru. The opening of new Irish missions and the upgrading of existing missions is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. As the Deputy will appreciate, however, constraints on Government expenditure, and the limits on the resources that can be made available, require that the expansion of our diplomatic network must be incremental and be based on a thorough assessment of the costs and benefits involved.

At present, there are no immediate plans to change the status of our diplomatic representation in Lesotho.