Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish embassies worldwide; the number of new embassies contemplated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34376/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has a network of 75 resident diplomatic and consular Missions abroad, as well as the British-Irish Inter-Governmental 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, as I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, only be undertaken having regard to clear priorities and available resources.

The most recent Embassy to be established was in Malawi in October 2007. The Government decided to establish an Embassy there, after the White Paper on Irish Aid, published in September 2006, designated Malawi as Ireland's ninth programme country.

The successful trade mission, led by the former 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 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. However, this decision must take account of the wider budgetary context, in particular the availability of the necessary resources.

Apart from the United Arab Emirates, there are no plans at present to establish any other new Embassies or Consulates abroad.