Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of personnel working in his Department; the number of ambassadors; the average length of time they have spent in his Department prior to being appointed to the post of ambassador; if any of the current ambassadors have been seconded from other Departments or the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17718/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The current authorised number of staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs is 1578. Irish Embassies, Consulates General, and Permanent Representations abroad are headed by members of staff of my Department. At present, there are 73 staff serving as Heads of Mission abroad. These staff are generally officers from the Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Counsellor and First Secretary grades. It is not possible, in the time available, to provide detailed information on the length of service of each of those officers prior to their first appointment as Head of Mission. However, I can advise the Deputy that in respect of those officers nominated by the Government to serve as Ambassadors for the first time in 2008 and 2009, the average length of service in my Department was 25 years.

Irish diplomats, including Heads of Mission, are career civil servants employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. One Head of Mission is currently on secondment from another Government Department. In addition, a number of Heads of Mission have served in other Government Departments prior to transferring to my Department. The practice of successive Governments has been to nominate Ambassadors who are established civil servants in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Accordingly, no Heads of Mission have been seconded from the private sector.