Written answers

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Diplomatic Representation

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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200. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific task the new special envoy to the United States of America will enjoy; if there will be a formal delegation order made following assignment of the role; the Department that is the parent line for the role; and if a budget allocation is to be made to support the role. [32141/17]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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201. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has informed the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress of the appointment of a new special envoy to the United States. [32142/17]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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202. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has informed the American administration of the appointment of a new special envoy to the United States. [32143/17]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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203. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the resources from Ireland's embassy and consulates in the United States that will be provided for the new special envoy announced recently. [32144/17]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 203, inclusive, together.

The Taoiseach has appointed Deputy John Deasy as a Government envoy to the US Congress to work on the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States. While Deputy Deasy will work under my overall direction and that of the Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon, TD, there will no requirement for a formal delegation order. I have already spoken with Deputy Deasy in regard to Government priorities in this area, and to explore how the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can best support him in this new role. The Secretary General of my Department, Niall Burgess, has also had follow up contact with Deputy Deasy regarding his appointment.

In meeting the challenges of this new role, Deputy Deasy will work closely with and be supported by the incoming Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, Dan Mulhall, as well as the Embassy of Ireland in Washington, DC, and our Consulates across the United States. Our Embassy and Consulates continue to monitor issues regarding immigration reform in the United States on a continuing basis. They also work very closely with Irish immigration centres in the United States in providing support to Irish immigrants in the US, including members of the undocumented community.

Ireland’s diplomatic network in the US is therefore very well placed to provide logistical and policy support to Deputy Deasy in the area of immigration reform. As the Taoiseach has indicated, Deputy Deasy will not be provided with any additional remuneration for this role. His travel and subsistence expenses, which are expected to be modest, will be covered from within the existing resources of my Department.

Deputy Deasy has extensive experience of working in the US Congress, including engaging on immigration reform legislation. He will bring that valuable experience and his network of contacts within the US system to augment the extensive efforts already undertaken by the Government and the Embassy in Washington, DC, as well as our Consulates, to assist the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US.

It is expected that Deputy Deasy will travel to the United States at an early date and the relevant US authorities will be appropriately advised of his appointment in advance of that visit.

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