John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of embassies established; if he has plans to add to this number; the number of staff employed in each; the year on year cost to operate each embassy over the past four years; his plans to promote trade through the use of the embassies; the way the promotion of trade will be linked to Enterprise Ireland; and the work being undertaken by that agency. [10623/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Irish Diplomatic Network is made up of 76 overseas Missions, in addition to offices in Armagh and Belfast. The network consists of 58 Embassies, 7 multilateral Missions and 11 Consulates General and other offices overseas. In addition to their country of primary accreditation, many Ambassadors are also accredited to additional countries on a non-resident basis. The size and scale of our diplomatic network is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. Any decision to open a new Mission overseas is undertaken having regard to clear national priorities and available resources, and must be on the basis of an anticipated and ongoing significant return for the State. There are no plans to open any new Embassies in the near term.

A detailed table giving staffing and costs of overseas Missions as requested is set out below.

The staffing figures include diplomatic staff and local staff engaged by the Mission. They also take account of officers of other Government Departments serving in our Missions abroad, most notably Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels and in Visa Offices operated within Embassies by staff seconded from the Department of Justice and Equality. Those include some staff whose salaries and other costs are borne by their parent Departments. Figures marked with an asterisk include some positions filled by personnel engaged through local employment agencies and not directly employed by the Missions.

The annual costs as set out in the table for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are the administrative costs of operating the mission. The figures do not include the salaries of the Irish based staff as these are a charge on the overall salaries budget of the Department rather than on a specific Mission. In addition to the administrative costs of operating a Mission, many Embassies fund programmes in their respective countries, in particular the Missions which fund Irish Aid activities. For example, in 2010, while the Embassy in Mozambique had administrative costs of almost €1 million, it managed an aid programme of €37.5 million through the Mission that year.

The administrative costs of offices in Irish Aid Programme Countries (highlighted in bold) are often high due to issues such as the additional security required in a developing country context. In addition to the normal staffing of Irish Aid offices, which generally consists of a small number of Irish diplomats, working with a maximum of three specialist technical staff from Ireland and a small number of locally-recruited administrative staff, there are often additional staff required to engage in programme activities or staff who are hired to provide specific services such as security - such staff are not included in the table below.

Also, from time to time Missions may incur significant capital expenditure in relation to their premises or for upgrading of essential infrastructure. These capital costs are not included in the annual administrative costs as detailed below.

The promotion of Ireland's economic interests overseas is a key focus of my Department. Ireland's network of 76 Missions will continue its work to restore Ireland's international reputation, which has been affected by the economic and financial crisis, and to support Ireland's economic growth.

My Department and the Embassy network works in close co-ordination with the State agencies to advance our economic goals in existing and emerging markets. Emerging markets and the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries in particular, provide significant trading opportunities for Irish companies. The Embassies and State Agencies in these countries, and other priority markets, have detailed market plans and are already very active in the promotion of Ireland's economic interests there. The Government will be looking at visits to key markets over the course of this year. In particular, the Taoiseach plans to lead a major trade mission to China later this year.

While the specific contribution of Embassies will necessarily differ depending on market conditions and other factors, all bilateral Missions have a role to play in promoting trade and investment. The role of the Embassies in trade promotion includes:

promoting an awareness of Ireland and its business potential;

assisting Irish companies in gaining and maintaining access for their goods and services;

reporting on economic and business trends and developments;

assisting in the resolution of problematic regulatory issues;

maintaining a network of high-level business related contacts

providing assistance and support to other Government Departments, agencies and, as appropriate, individual companies

The further development of the trade promotion role for my Department is a key priority. Discussions are currently taking place between officials in my Department and in the current Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation in this regard. I anticipate that these will result in an enhanced relationship between my Department and Enterprise Ireland.

Ireland's Embassies and Consulates continue to work closely with Enterprise Ireland abroad towards the advancement of Irish business and economic interests and there is also a very good working relationship between my Department and Enterprise Ireland here at home.

* Includes positions filled by personnel engaged through local employment agencies and not directly employed by the Mission. 1 Operating costs for PMUN New York in 2008 reflects rent costs paid in advance for 2009 (which achieved significant savings). 2 Operating costs for Embassy Tokyo in 2009 reflects rent costs paid in advance for 2010 (which achieved significant savings).