Written answers

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Consular Services

8:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 181: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the further closure of a number of embassies here, if he is considering reviewing the allocation of embassies to predominantly include states in which there are reciprocal consular services and facilities in place or for important trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29774/12]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland had 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. There are also 94 Honorary Consuls located in 54 locations around the world which assist primarily with consular functions on behalf of my Department.

Our Missions abroad are actively involved in representing and advancing Government policies with other States and in international organisations, in particular the EU and the UN; economic and cultural promotion; providing frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens overseas; engaging with Irish communities and harnessing the resource they offer in assisting economic recovery; and managing programmes, particularly in Irish Aid priority countries. Our Embassy network works very closely with the State Agencies which have a remit for the promotion of Irish trade, tourism and inward investment - Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland and IDA Ireland - and other relevant Departments in assisting Irish producers to find and access new markets.

The scale and presence of the Irish diplomatic network is a matter that is kept under ongoing review in the light of changing circumstances and needs. Given the current budgetary situation, and recognising the role that our diplomatic network is playing in Ireland's economic recovery, any further adjustments to our diplomatic network will continue to be strategically focused. While any reduction in the number of Embassies in Dublin is to be regretted, it is a matter for each State to make decisions on where it deploys its diplomatic network. Likewise, for Ireland, we will continue to make our own decisions on where we have a Mission on the basis of an assessment of what best serves the interests of the State and our people.

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