Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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435. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the powers he has to summon ambassadors of foreign jurisdictions to meet him to discuss any urgent matters; the basis on which such power or practice to summon ambassadors arises; and the dates and particulars of each occasion on which he has summoned a foreign ambassador to meet him from 14 June 2017 to date. [26478/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Diplomatic relations between States, and with their diplomatic missions, are regulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, as transposed into Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967.

Under the Vienna Convention, there are a suite of measures provided for the conduct of relations between States including measures to allow States to express displeasure with the policies or actions of another State. Article 3 of the Convention describes the functions of a diplomatic mission as consisting, inter alia, in representing the sending State in the receiving State; negotiating with the Government of the receiving State; and promoting friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State.

There are currently 64 resident Embassies in Ireland, with a further 86 Ambassadors accredited to Ireland on a non-resident basis. Meetings between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ambassadors may be arranged at the request of the Minister, or of the Ambassador. Ambassadors and other officials of Embassies are frequent visitors to the Department of Foreign Affairs for discussions at Senior Official level on a wide range of issues. Such exchanges are an important element in promoting positive international relations.

Given the recent and ongoing measures in place to protect public health, I have also held meetings with Ambassadors by means of phone calls or video conferences.

Given the numerous and varied nature of my interactions with foreign Ambassadors, and the many issues raised in such discussions, it is not feasible to provide an accurate account of the arrangements made for every meeting I have undertaken with a foreign Ambassador since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs in June 2017. However, I can assure the Deputy that I frequently meet with Ambassadors accredited to Ireland and will always use such occasions to raise any concerns I may have in relation to the policies or actions of their Governments.