Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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198. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will clarify the number of Irish embassies currently without an ambassador; the length of time each post has been vacant; when he will fill these vital posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33659/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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From this month there will be no vacancies at Ambassadorial level. Ambassadors appointed to Cairo, Ljubljana and Lusaka are currently in the process of assuming duty.

The Head of Mission post in Cairo, Egypt has been vacant since the end of April. The Ambassador designate to Egypt, Mr. Damien Cole, has already made a number of visits to Cairo and an initial round of calls. He will formally take up duty within the fortnight. The former Ambassador, Isolde Moylan, retired from her post in early May and in the interim the Deputy Head of Mission, Cormac Gallagher, has been Chargé d’Affaires. The Head of Mission post in Ljubljana, Slovenia has been vacant since early September and our Ambassador-designate, Mr. Seán O’Regan, will take up duty there next week. The Head of Mission post in Lusaka, Zambia has been vacant since the end of August and our Ambassador-designate, Mr. Seamus O’Grady, will take up duty in mid-October.

In the interim, all three Missions are currently being headed by the respective Deputy Heads of Mission acting as Chargés d’Affaires, in line with the usual practice.