Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline his personal involvement in our forthcoming OSCE chairmanship. [31201/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland will assume the chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 2012 for one year. Comprising 56 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America, the OSCE is the world's largest intergovernmental regional security organisation, dealing with a range of issues in the areas of democratisation, human rights, arms control and economic and environmental security.

As this is the first time Ireland will chair the organisation, it offers us a welcome opportunity to assume a leadership role on the global stage, consistent with our strong commitment to effective multilateralism and the promotion of human rights and democratic values. In my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will hold the position of Chair-in-Office of the OSCE for the duration of Ireland's Chairmanship of the organisation in 2012. I will bear overall responsibility for the executive action of the OSCE next year and the co-ordination of its activities. I will be closely involved in the handling of all major challenges facing the OSCE in 2012 and will have ongoing contact with the key players. I hope to bring the lessons of the Northern Ireland peace process to bear in these contacts and in the work of advancing conflict resolution within the OSCE region. The OSCE Chairmanship involves a considerable work programme and I will have a key leadership and supervisory role.

Ireland was one of the founding States of the OSCE and we have always recognised the organisation's vital role in maintaining peace and security in the Eurasian region. During 2012, I will emphasise the strong commitment of the OSCE to the defence and protection of human rights, focus on the need for commitments agreed upon in the analogue age to be adapted to our digital age and stress the benefits of good governance across the OSCE area.

I look forward to the support and advice of the House in carrying out my duties as Chair-in-Office.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 60: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any officials from his Department or the Department of the Taoiseach will be involved in the forthcoming OSCE chairmanship. [31202/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will hold the position of Chair-in-Office of the OSCE for the duration of Ireland's Chairmanship of the organisation in 2012. I will bear overall responsibility for the executive action of the OSCE next year and the co-ordination of its activities. Officials in my Department have been actively engaged since autumn last year in preparations for our Chairmanship. As part of these preparations, Ireland is participating this year in the OSCE Troika with the current chair of the organisation, Lithuania, and previous chair, Kazakhstan. Weekly Troika meetings take place at OSCE headquarters in Vienna.

A dedicated OSCE Task Force was established in my Department last October. This comprises a total of twelve Dublin-based officials, with fourteen officials working at Ireland's OSCE Mission in Vienna. Two special representatives on the protracted conflicts in the OSCE area have also been appointed. Officials working on the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office have been sourced from officers reassigned from other duties, internships, secondments from other countries and a small number of retired civil servants.

The OSCE's activities cover a broad spectrum of activities and I want to ensure that all Government Departments are in a position to contribute to and gain from our chairmanship. To this end, regular consultations take place with officials from other Government Departments, including the Department of the Taoiseach, who will also contribute relevant expertise over the course of Ireland's chairmanship.