Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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351. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the selection process to nominate an Irish ambassador to Ireland’s diplomatic missions abroad; the oversight proposals that exist on such appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62491/21]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration is being given to using the Public Appointments Service to source candidates for senior roles in Ireland’s diplomatic missions abroad; the efforts being considered to increase transparency on assigning senior postings abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62492/21]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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353. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the grade and associated pay scales for diplomatic ambassadors posted overseas; if this pay scale varies amongst Ireland’s embassies abroad; if so, the variations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62493/21]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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354. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current or former Departmental secretary generals, assistant secretary generals or civil servants that have or will undertake diplomatic missions abroad in tabular form; if he will list the name, location of diplomatic mission and previous public sector employment roles in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62494/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 to 354, inclusive, together.

I propose to group the Deputy’s four questions together for answer. The Government, on foot of proposals made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, nominates officers for Ambassadorial posts. The nominated Ambassadors are subsequently appointed by the President and take up duty abroad following the receipt of agrémentfrom the receiving state. Only serving civil servants are considered for ambassadorial assignments.

All currently serving Ambassadors are established career civil servants employed by my Department. All civil service grades are recruited through the Public Appointments Service or external competitions administered by my Department in accordance with the Code of Practice as set out by the Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). In considering the nomination of Ambassadors, a range of factors is taken into account including political, economic and trade priorities. In addition the management experience, regional knowledge, country knowledge, relevant language skills, policy experience, consular experience, and other factors of the officers are taken into account as part of the assignment process. Officers submit a list of preferences for an overseas posting. Ambassadors are paid on the same pay scales for all Civil Service employees for that grade. These pay scales are available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website. Additional allowances and costs (e.g. healthcare, school fees, transportation of goods) are paid by the Department depending on the conditions in the local county, based on Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanction.

As requested, I have included the list of Irish Ambassadors broken down by location and grade.