The Supplementary Estimate for External Affairs comes before the House because of the need to make provision for the newly established Mission at Lagos, the capital of the Federation of Nigeria, and because it is now clear that expenditure on a number of subheads of the Vote for External Affairs is likely to be somewhat greater than was envisaged when the original Estimate was framed.
Deputies will be well aware of the strong connection that has long existed between Ireland and Nigeria. Irish missionaries have been labouring in that country for some fifty or sixty years. We can indeed be very proud of the work they have done there and of the important role they continue to play in the educational and medical as well as the spiritual life of the Nigerian people. It is estimated that there are at the present time upwards of 1,500 Irish citizens resident in the Federation and making their contribution to the development of this important new African State. Among these citizens there are 1,000 priests, brothers and nuns. Our educational institutions at home are happy and we are happy to see so many Nigerians come to our own country for training in medicine, law and other disciplines.
It is our hope that the establishment of a Mission in Nigeria will prove beneficial to the work of our missionaries and other citizens there. I know that they will appreciate having an official Irish representative in Nigeria, as indeed they and the people among whom they live and work appreciated the Taoiseach's presence at the Independence Celebrations at Lagos.
The Federation of Nigeria—the most populous single national unit in Africa—is bound to exercise an important influence in the future development, political and economic, of that continent, and it is already playing an important and valuable part in the United Nations.
We hope, too, that the presence of a Mission in Lagos will be rewarding for the development of our export trade. It is as yet too early to speak with any certainty of the prospects in that regard but it is at least reasonable to expect that a community of 35,000,00, embarked on the material development to which the attainment of independence gives a most powerful impetus, will provide openings for mutually advantageous trade exchanges with this country.
Last summer the Government decided that it would be appropriate that, before Nigeria achieved independence on the 1st October, 1960, a consular office should be established at Lagos to take care of the interests of Irish citizens and to foster commercial and other contacts. It was not of course possible to have diplomatic relations with Nigeria at that time. After the attainment of independence, however, most other countries which had hitherto had consular missions in Lagos transformed them into diplomatic missions and the Government felt that it was proper for this country to do likewise.
Our Embassy will consist of an Ambassador and a First Secretary with such subordinate staff as may be found to be necessary. Pending the arrival of the Ambassador-designate in Lagos in a few months' time the Embassy will be in the charge of the First Secretary as Chargé d' Affaires ad interim. In the Supplementary Estimate for the current year, therefore, provision is made for the salary and allowances of the First Secretary and subordinate staff and for incidental expenses connected with the running of the office. The estimated expenditure in the current financial year arising out of the establishment of the Embassy at Lagos will be £1,900 under Subhead B.1, £750 under Subhead B.2, £150 under Subhead B.3, and £50 under Subhead B.4.
With regard to the other factors which have necessitated my introducing this Supplementary Estimate, I should mention that we were conscious of the fact that the original Estimate was somewhat tightly drawn. It now emerges that additional sums are required under a number of Subheads, namely, in respect of
(a)salaries, wages and allowances at headquarters and abroad (Subheads A.1 and B.1).
(b)travelling and subsistence expenses in respect of headquarters and abroad (Subheads A.2 and B.2),
(c)official entertainment of distinguished persons (Subheads C.3), and
(d)postage, stationery, telegrams and telephones abroad and incidentals at home and abroad.
Deputies will find details set out in the Supplementary Estimate.
It is now expected that the Appropriations-in-Aid will fall short of what was originally estimated by £1,750.
The net supplementary sum required is accordingly £15,775.