Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish embassies actually in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31894/09]

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. This diplomatic network consists of 58 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices. These Missions also have over 80 additional accreditations to other countries and organisations.

Ireland's diplomatic missions and consular offices are dedicated to the pursuit of Ireland's interests abroad and to enhancing Ireland's international profile. They are the external offices of the State, promoting Government policies and participating in the work of international organisations. A number of missions also play a key role in the delivery of Ireland's development aid programme. Diplomatic and consular missions perform a range of representational, promotional and reporting functions.

Missions accredited to multilateral organisations such as the United Nations present Ireland's views in negotiations and debate within these organisations. The role of the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels is to represent the State in its interface with the EU institutions and in negotiations at official level in the Council of Ministers. It also advises on negotiations at political level in the Council of Ministers and at the European Council.

In addition, there are also 19 Honorary Consuls General and 66 Honorary Consuls who provide consular assistance and services to Irish citizens in 59 countries.

I have set out below a full list of the locations and accreditations, both primary and secondary, of all Irish Embassies, Consulates and offices abroad, which will be entered into the record of the House.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will respond to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32670/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, through the Consular Section in Dublin and our Embassy in Madrid, has been providing assistance on the case of the person mentioned by him since her disappearance on 1st January 2008. We have remained in regular contact with her family during this deeply worrying time for them.

Extensive physical searches of the area where the person mentioned was last seen have been conducted by specialist teams from the Spanish police. The Gardaí have also assisted the Spanish police with their investigation. Unfortunately, I understand that no lead or breakthrough in the case has yet occurred.

The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D., and his predecessor have both met with the family in Dublin, as have I and senior officials from my Department. The Taoiseach has also been in contact with Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríquez Zapatero highlighting his interest in the case. Prime Minister Zapatero in turn expressed his concern, solidarity and the commitment of the Spanish authorities to advance the investigation into the person's whereabouts.

Our Ambassador to Spain has met with high ranking political representatives in Málaga in relation to the case and senior police officer involved in the investigation on more than one occasion. The Ambassador and Consul were accompanied to the meetings by family members of the person concerned. The main purpose of the meetings was to obtain an updated account of the investigation and to keep the case alive in the public consciousness.

Our Embassy has been in regular contact since with the senior police officer leading this investigation and will continue to do so. He and the Spanish authorities have undertaken to keep the Embassy informed of any developments, which they are treating as a missing persons case, and of course any information received will be passed on immediately to the family both in Spain and in Ireland.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department, through the Consular Section and the Irish Embassy, will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family.