Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff assigned to the Global Ireland Initiative; the number of print and online adverts purchased as part of the initiative; the details and purpose of each advert; the cost per advert; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31350/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Work has begun on the initial phase of the expansion of Ireland’s diplomatic network following the launch of “Global Ireland” on 11 June. The locations for new missions agreed by Government were identified on the basis of maximising impact in promoting Ireland’s economic and political interests; expanding our influence in terms of values and in delivering clear benefits for the State. In addition to the opening of new diplomatic and consular missions, my Department is taking steps to deepen the existing network, including to address the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The decisions already made to augment staff in missions in Europe as a more direct response to Brexit also contribute to the objectives of the “Global Ireland” initiative. A project team in headquarters is undertaking extensive planning to ensure that my Department’s human and financial resources are used efficiently to deliver on the expansion and deepening of the network in a timely and cost-effective way.

The Government has approved Heads of Mission appointments for the first phase comprising six new missions to be opened in 2018 and early 2019. These are for Embassies and Consulates in Bogotá, Santiago, Amman, Wellington, Mumbai, and Vancouver. These missions will be further supported by posted officer(s) from Headquarters, as well as by locally recruited staff. Additional staff will also be assigned shortly to a number of existing missions overseas including Embassies and Consulates in the United States, Europe, the Middle East/Gulf region and Asia.

Preparations for augmenting the key units in headquarters needed to support the expansion are underway and five additional staff were assigned recently to Corporate Services Division. This is to reinforce specialist knowledge, including in architectural and project management areas as well as bolster human resources skills to facilitate expanded recruitment and a strong focus on staff development. A scoping of broader staffing needs across operational and policy areas is underway to identify additional new requirements relating to the “Global Ireland” expansion.

The Department is currently undertaking a workforce planning exercise which will inform plans for recruitment of new officers both in Ireland and abroad as well as plans for the training, development and up-skilling of officers currently assigned to the Department to meet the objectives of the Global Ireland initiative in 2019 and beyond.

With regard to advertising costs for the Global Ireland Initiative, no costs have been incurred by my Department to date.