Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department has received any complaints relating to the operation of Irish embassies or consulates abroad from Irish citizens or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I would like to assure the Deputy that Quality Customer Service is a priority for my Department and for all our offices, at home and abroad. My Department does receive a small number of complaints from members of the public concerning the services provided by our 70-plus embassies and consulates abroad. All complaints are investigated and a response is issued as soon as possible. Where additional assistance can be provided, this is done. Where errors are identified, these are acknowledged and remedied.

While we would never comment on individual cases, we are conscious that when Irish citizens seek assistance at an embassy or consulate abroad, it is often due to challenging or sensitive personal circumstances, to which the staff of my Department seek to respond in a courteous, professional and diligent manner. In this regard, I would like to assure the Deputy that more letters of thanks and appreciation are received from the public than letters of complaint and it is gratifying and heartening to receive such acknowledgement for the range of services provided to our citizens by the hardworking staff of my Department.