Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of relations with Venezuela; and the recent contacts with this country. [15391/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland established diplomatic relations with Venezuela on 29 November 1980 and is accredited on a non-residential basis through our Ambassador to Mexico. Ambassador Dermot Brangan presented his credentials to the then Venezuelan Vice President, Mr Jose Vicente Rangel, in Caracas on 8 May 2006. On 13 January 2009, Dr. Samuel Moncada, Ambassador of Venezuela in London, who is also accredited to Ireland, presented his credentials to President McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin.

Ireland's relations with Venezuela are conducted primarily in the multilateral context, in particular through the framework of EU-Latin America and Caribbean relations (EU-LAC), as well as the EU-Rio Group Strategic Dialogues. The most recent Government level contact in the multilateral context took place at the Fifth EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit in Lima on 16 May 2008. Ireland was represented at the Summit by Minister of State Peter Power. Regular meetings at senior official level are held between the EU and representatives of all the Latin American and Caribbean States, most recently in Buenos Aires on 19-20 March 2009.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to assist embassies abroad in their promotion of the economy here since 1 January 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14697/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I attach the highest importance to the work of Ireland's Embassies and Consulates in promoting Ireland as a trading partner and as a location for foreign investment. In the context of the current economic crisis, this work is more important than ever.

In order to give greater support to Embassies and Consulates in the promotion of the Irish economy in January 2009 a special unit was established in the Promoting Ireland Abroad Division of my Department.

The role of this unit is to improve the flow of information to and from our Embassies and Consulates and to ensure that our Missions are fully equipped to promote Ireland's overseas economic interests in the current difficult conditions. A particular focus has been placed on providing accurate information to economic policy-makers and commentators in major markets and to countering inaccurate negative reporting in the foreign media.

The St Patrick's Day period provided a particularly important occasion to promote Ireland and the Irish economy. Overall, the emphasis on economic promotion and business media was the strongest of recent years, and the presence of the Taoiseach and other Government representatives opened doors and provided leadership to the activities of Embassies and Consulates to showcase Ireland.

To ensure that the Embassies and Consulates continue to be well equipped in this area, officials of my Department taking up diplomatic postings abroad this year will receive intensive training in economic and trade-related matters. This is a continuation and expansion of the training in this area provided to diplomatic officers on an annual basis.