asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state in how many countries Ireland is diplomatically represented only by a Chargé d'Affaires; and the reason, in each case, why a full diplomatic representative has not been appointed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Diplomatic Representation.
Ireland is represented by a Chargé d'Affaires in Switzerland, Portugal and Sweden.
In the case of Switzerland and Sweden, the initiative in the establishment of diplomatic relations was taken by the Swiss and Swedish Governments respectively, who notified us of their intention to accredit diplomatic representatives to this country with the rank of Chargé d'Affaires. We reciprocated, in the normal course, by sending representatives of equivalent rank to Berne and Stockholm. Our legation in Lisbon was established in 1942, shortly after the opening of our legation in Berne, and it was considered proper that our mission in Portugal should have the same status as the mission in Switzerland and that our representative in Lisbon, like his colleague in Berne, should rank as a Chargé d'Affaires. The heads of our diplomatic missions in Switzerland, Sweden and Portugal are, of course, full diplomatic representatives.
Is the Minister in a position to inform us as to whether our diplomatic representation in Spain is now fully accredited and, if so, what is the rank of our representative in Madrid?
He is a fully accredited representative Minister.
He is a Minister?
Yes.
Thank you.