Paul McGrath
Question:38 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he has taken to expand the Ireland House concept as promised in An Action Programme for the Millennium. [4264/98]
Written Answers - Ireland House Concept.
As the Tánaiste pointed out in reply to a question on 11 December 1997, the Foreign Earning Committee, which is chaired by the Minister of State Deputy Tom Kitt and which has representation from the Department of Foreign Affairs, includes in its remit the examination of opportunities for the consolidation, wherever possible, of our overseas diplomatic, commercial and consular offices into Ireland Houses so as to ensure the most effective use of available resources.
There is now consolidated representation involving diplomatic missions and one or more agencies in New York, Tokyo, Moscow, Riyadh, Beijing, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Helsinki, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur. I was pleased to perform the opening in October, 1997, of the latest Ireland House in Madrid, which incorporates the Embassy, An Bord Trachtála, Bord Fáilte, BIM and An Bord Bia. It should also be noted that there is consolidated representation involving some or all agencies, but not Embassies, in locations such as London, Paris, Dusseldorf and Milan.
The possibility of expanding the Ireland House concept to other locations is being kept under review in liaison with the State agencies through the Foreign Earnings Committee. Any such arrangements must naturally be shown to be both cost effective and conducive to the more effective representation of Ireland's interests.