Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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191. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the percentage of staff that are based at the Irish Embassy in Bangkok that are fluent in speaking and writing in Thai. [56886/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A wide range of skills are required to carry out the functions of an Embassy and, to that end, the staffing profile of our Embassies include both posted staff and locally-hired staff.

A total of 13 staff are currently employed by Ireland’s Embassy to Thailand.

10 members of the staff (77%) at the Embassy are fluent in both spoken and written Thai and all posted staff members have undertaken Thai language training with 2 currently undertaking further Thai language training.

Developing and maintaining foreign language skills in our Embassies is important in building key relationships, and enabling officers to integrate more deeply in their host country.