Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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612. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the expansion of diplomatic presence in emerging markets and the establishment of two new agriculture attaché posts in the Irish Embassies in Beijing, China and Moscow, Russia announced in March 2013, in view of the importance Ireland attachs to the growing trade and maturing diplomatic relationships with China and Russia and which will further assist Irish food, drinks, ingredients, genomics, feed and equine sectors; when he expects these two agriculture attaché posts to be filled and by what method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35983/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I took a decision earlier this year to establish two new agriculture attaché posts in the Irish Embassies in Beijing and Moscow respectively. This was a reflection of the growing importance of these markets to exports of Irish agri-food products. Following an internal competition, these posts have now been filled. The agricultural attaché to Moscow will take up duty at the end of August and the attaché to Beijing will take up duty in January of next year.