Written answers

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

Diplomatic Representation

9:00 pm

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to develop the Ireland House concept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41867/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In 1987, the Government formulated a policy to bring together, where feasible, our Missions abroad and the offices of State Agencies in a single location, designated as Ireland House. The precise model of implementing such an arrangement would of course vary and has to reflect the local conditions and other factors. There are now a number of types of Ireland Houses currently operating overseas.

The largest Ireland House is in New York and comprises the Consulate, Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, the American Ireland Fund and CIE Tours. Ireland's Embassies in Brussels, Budapest, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, New Delhi, Prague, Riyadh, Singapore and Warsaw share premises with Enterprise Ireland, while, in addition to Enterprise Ireland, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney and Washington also accommodate an IDA office at their locations. The Consulate in Shanghai shares premises with Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia; the Embassy in Tel Aviv shares premises with Tourism Ireland; the Consulate in Chicago shares premises with Bord Bia; the Ireland House in Madrid houses offices from Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, an Bord Iascaigh Mhara alongside the Embassy. In all cases the arrangement is one designed to increase the impact of Ireland's presence abroad, to improve coordination between all parties as well as to maximise cost-efficiencies.

In addition, I am aware that there are a number of other locations where state agencies share facilities with each other in the form of an Ireland House, which does not include the Irish Mission to that particular country. For example, in Paris where the IDA, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and BIM operate an Ireland House. There are no specific plans at present to expand the current network of Ireland Houses, as where it has been possible, the concept has already been put in place. However, where new Missions or Agencies are opening or moving to new locations, the possibility of expanding the current network of Ireland Houses is kept under review.

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