Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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115. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on recent activities of the Irish Consulate General based in Hong Kong, including staffing numbers. [28077/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The role of the Consulate General in Hong Kong is to develop relations between Ireland and Hong Kong across a range of political, economic and people-to-people activities, to provide services to the Irish community, and to report on developments in Hong Kong. There are three diplomatic staff posted from the Department of Foreign Affairs and two locally engaged staff. The Consulate General works closely with the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing.

The Consulate General provides consular and passport services to a community of over 3,000 Irish citizens. These services range from emergency and crisis consular advice to facilitation of passport renewals. In the period of January to June 2024, the Consulate General facilitated the delivery of over 317 passports and dealt with over 2500 email queries.

The Consulate General has engaged in a number of activities in line with the objectives set out in the Government’s renewed Asia Pacific Strategy published in October last year.

A key element of their work is the promotion of Irish culture in Hong Kong. In February, the Consulate General hosted the first official St. Brigid’s Day event in Hong Kong. The event brought together women leaders in the Arts and business in Hong Kong.

In March and April, the Consulate General partnered with the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong Walls street art festival and the Hong Kong International Literary Festival to sponsor the participation of Irish artists and promote modern Irish culture to a local audience.

For St. Patrick's Day, the Consulate facilitated the visit of then Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath. The Minister’s programme included engagements with diaspora organisations, meetings with Irish State Agencies working in Hong Kong in support of Irish businesses, and media engagement. He also held a roundtable discussion on the Financial Sector in Hong Kong with the participation of Irish professionals working in the industry. The Consulate General also supported a number of community events in Hong Kong to mark St. Patrick's Day.

The Consulate General has also participated this year in European Union Member State observation of trials of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong brought under the National Security Law and other legislation. The Consulate General reports regularly on political developments in Hong Kong.

The above key activities are in addition to a programme of ongoing engagements with diplomatic counterparts, the Hong Kong administration, key stakeholders in the financial services industry, other members of the business community, the sporting community and the resident Irish community and members of the diaspora.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the top five language courses provided by his Department for Irish embassy or consulate staff based overseas where English is not the first language spoken in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024; the amount paid by his Department for those courses for staff in the years in question, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28104/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Developing and maintaining foreign language proficiency is an essential part of an effective diplomatic and foreign service. The Department aims therefore to provide the supports and resources staff need to achieve an enhanced level of foreign language proficiency from online training, group classes, one to one classes to immersion courses.

Staff preparing for posting to an Embassy or Consulate overseas are provided with foreign language training ahead of that posting and this then continues for the duration of the posting. This ensures that posted staff are equipped with the language skills necessary to carry out their duties and responsibilities effectively, including to promote and protect Irish interests and values, and to provide excellent services to citizens.

The table below outlines the top five languages in respect of which courses were supported by the Department for staff based at Embassies and Consulates overseas, in locations where English is not the first language spoken. The table includes information for the years 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024.