Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 28: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the scheduled meetings to be held in Dublin in 2011 involving all our heads of mission and the agenda identified for these meetings. [5350/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Government has given a commitment that we will get the economy moving, restore confidence in the economy, fix our banking system and support the protection and creation of jobs. It is also our declared intention to re-build Ireland's reputation on the international stage. We are determined to restore Ireland's standing as a respected and influential member of the European Union and as part of the wider international community. Our Embassy network has a vital role to play in the repair of our reputation. We have made a firm commitment, therefore, in the new Programme for Government to "recall all Ireland's Ambassadors within 100 days of this new Government for briefings on a new approach to promoting and marketing Ireland as a country to do business in."

Work is underway in my Department on arrangements for this Ambassadors' Conference and we will be making an announcement on the timing and agenda shortly. While the emphasis will be on trade and restoring Ireland's reputation, I would expect the meeting to address all aspects of my Department's activities.

The promotion of enterprise and trade has always been an important component of our Embassy network. In recent times, this has been augmented by actions to brief key opinion formers in the international media, in host Governments and in civic society about our policies and in instilling confidence in the economy. In doing so, my Department and our Embassies work closely with State Agencies such as the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, Bord Bia and Culture Ireland. It has been normal practice for these agencies to be involved in Heads of Missions meetings and I would intend that this be the case with the forthcoming meeting.