Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 125: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to create new diplomatic missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3802/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland has a network of 75 resident diplomatic and consular Missions abroad, as well as the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast and the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat in Armagh. While the opening of new Embassies abroad is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis, any expansion of our diplomatic network can only be undertaken having regard to clear priorities and available resources.

The White Paper on Irish Aid, published in September 2006, designated Malawi as Ireland's ninth programme country. Based on this recommendation, the Government decided to establish an Embassy in Lilongwe and Ireland's first resident Ambassador to Malawi took up duty in October of last year.

The successful trade mission, led by the Taoiseach in January 2007, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates underlined the potential value to Ireland of having a second resident Embassy in the Gulf region. Accordingly, and in order to take advantage of this potential, the Government in March 2007 agreed to my recommendation that an Embassy be established in the United Arab Emirates. The timing of the establishment of this new Embassy in Abu Dhabi is under consideration. Apart from the United Arab Emirates, there are no plans at present to establish any other new Embassies.