Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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408. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to appoint cultural officers in the Irish Embassy in Athens, Greece. [22953/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The appointment of full-time specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations worldwide has been identified in the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy as a key action to widen and deepen our global cultural presence and engagement. Five positions in Berlin, London, New York, Los Angeles and Beijing have been filled to date in a close partnership between my Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Consideration is being given at present to further such appointments in priority locations and regions as part of the Global Ireland programme, subject to resources and to local conditions and requirements. The cultural brief in Athens is currently managed by the Embassy's diplomatic staff.