Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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87. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the diplomatic missions of Ireland through embassies, consulates, honorary consuls and otherwise which are actively engaging in social media, namely in terms of Facebook and Twitter accounts; the reason not all embassies have taken to Twitter yet; areas in which his Department is particularly proactive in this regard; when he expects remaining missions to become active online; if he intends to get every diplomatic mission onto various social media platforms as part of digital diplomacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37387/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My Department is among the most active on social media and I recognise the potential of Twitter, in particular, to provide timely and relevant information to citizens in Ireland and abroad. The Department began to establish social media accounts in 2011. Currently our missions operate 25 Twitter accounts and two Facebook accounts, with more to be established in the months ahead. These accounts are detailed in the table below and are in addition to four Twitter accounts and one Facebook account operated centrally by my Department. As of last month, we had a combined total of almost 34,000 followers on Twitter alone. Social media is particularly useful in terms of providing advice about our services, including passports and travel advice; raising awareness of the work of missions and the Department more broadly and highlighting Irish events, associations, and companies worldwide.

In countries where Twitter is not commonly used or available, we encourage the use of appropriate social media. For example our missions in China are about to establish Sina Weibo accounts.

It is my intention that our use of social media continues to expand in a broad and sustainable manner. My Department is finalising a Social Media Policy to guide staff at missions and headquarters on the optimum use of social media platforms to ensure continued best practice online.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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88. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he expects any officials in his Department, either based in Ireland or elsewhere, to be considered for appointment as an EU ambassador at one of the various European External Action Service diplomatic missions around the world in the near future; if he believes Ireland lost out when the EEAS was established a number of years ago when no Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials were awarded any senior positions within the organisation; the way he and his Department intend to change this in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37395/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The European External Action Service (EEAS) is staffed by officials from the EU Commission, the EU Council Secretariat and diplomats from the EU Member States. The Council Decision which established the EEAS in 2010 stipulated that Member State diplomats should represent at least one third of all staff at Administrator (AD) level. On the whole, there has been good progress made towards achieving this “one third” target, with recent figures indicating that the percentage of EU Member State diplomats working in the Service stands at 32.9%. In terms of Irish representation at the EEAS, there are currently seven officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade serving with the EEAS. This represents 2.36% of the total number of EU diplomats working at the EEAS, which is slightly higher than Ireland’s overall percentage of the EU’s population. In addition, there are 37 Irish nationals working for the EEAS including, at the most senior level, David O’Sullivan, who holds the post of Chief Operating Officer of the Service. An Irish national was also recently appointed to the position of Head of Mission in Rwanda. Member State diplomats are free to apply for published posts, including at the level of Head of Mission. Those officers that meet the criteria for an individual post and are shortlisted based on their experience and expertise, are ultimately interviewed by the EU High Representative for the Foreign and Security Policy. The Department takes all reasonable steps to support the candidacies of Irish applicants for EEAS posts. Officers who are offered positions in the EEAS have been and will continue to be granted special leave for the duration of their assignments.

The Government is committed to ensuring that Ireland is adequately represented in the EEAS and indeed in all EU structures. I can assure the Deputy that this subject is kept under regular review.