Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount it costs to maintain the remainder of our embassies; and the benefits accruing to this State by maintaining same. [34044/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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When the recent decisions regarding Mission closures are taken into account, Ireland will have 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 10 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 overall operating costs in 2010 for all Missions abroad came to just under €55 million. Operating costs include items such as local staff salaries but not salaries of diplomatic staff, which are a charge on the Headquarters budget.

Ireland's missions abroad perform a wide range of functions in pursuit of Ireland's foreign policy interests. These include representing and advancing government policies with other States and in international organisations, in particular the EU and the UN; economic and cultural promotion; frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens overseas; engaging with Irish communities and harnessing the resource they offer in assisting economic recovery; and programme management, particularly in Irish Aid priority countries.

Our diplomatic missions have particular strengths in relation to facilitating access to key economic and business decision-makers; ensuring, in cooperation with the relevant State Agencies, that a cohesive message about the fundamentals of the Irish economy is conveyed to major opinion-formers internationally; targeted promotion and, in some locations, in dealing with regulatory issues.