Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to review the Diplomatic Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50192/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I keep the operation of the Diplomatic Service under constant review in order to ensure that the service my Department provides to Irish citizens, the Oireachtas and other stakeholders continues to meet the high standards they have come to expect. In that context last year, and taking into account reduced resources, significant changes were made to the structures of the Department which involved moving to a more geographic focussed structure at HQ, linking HQ and overseas missions more closely, and our Embassies taking on greater responsibility for their countries of accreditation. My Department has been implementing these changes over the past year and will continue to review the effectiveness of this new structure.

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.