Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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160. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional staff by grade that have been recruited by his Department for Expo 2020 in Dubai commencing in October 2021; the staff by grade that have yet to be filled; and when these posts will be filled in tabular form. [38288/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following a pandemic enforced postponement of one year, Expo 2020 will commence on 1 October 2021. Over 180 countries will be present at Expo, and Ireland’s participation will be a central plank in the country’s economic recovery as it is a unique platform to showcase Ireland to a global audience, and promote Ireland as a good place to invest, visit, study, work and do business. Expo will be a driver of Ireland’s recovery and renewal in the post Covid global landscape, and is a key component of our Global Ireland Programme.

Our presence at Expo Dubai will highlight Irish creativity, innovation, and culture, and will provide a multiplicity of trade, investment and tourism opportunities for Ireland internationally. Expo will also facilitate significant bilateral engagement with participating countries throughout the six month event.

To date, the following staff, based in Dubai, have been recruited or assigned to support Ireland’s participation in Expo 2020.

In addition, staff in our Embassy in Abu Dhabi and in the Global Ireland Division at Headquarters in Dublin are engaged on a project basis to support Ireland’s presence at Expo.

The Department is in the final stages of contracting a service provider, following a competitive tender process, to provide operatives and associated service staff to operate Ireland’s Pavilion at Expo. This will ensure the smooth and efficient running of the Irish Pavilion and the programme of events that will take place there. Currently, it is envisaged that 20 temporary staff, hired locally on short-term contracts, will be required for the operation of the Pavilion. It is expected that these staff will commence work in early autumn.