Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of money saved by closing the embassies of the Holy See, East Timor and Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34041/11]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 88: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will quantify the economic benefits of closing each of the three embassies as announced last week. [34483/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 88 together.

The savings accrued by closing the three Missions in Tehran, the Holy See and Dili over a full year are estimated to amount to €1.175 million. This includes the savings on rent accruing from the planned move of the Embassy to Italy to the buildings currently occupied by the Embassy to the Holy See. However, in the short-term, there will be some disengagement and transitional costs, including items such as local staff redundancies and running down of rental contracts. As a result of the closures, it will also be possible to relocate six diplomatic staff to help offset staff losses elsewhere in the diplomatic service.

The regrettable, but necessary, decision to close the Missions in question followed a thorough review carried out by my Department in which particular weight was given to the promotion of Irish economic interests abroad.