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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Nov 1956

Vol. 160 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Paris and London Embassies.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if, in regard to the embassy in London, he will state in respect of the financial year 1955-56 (a) the total number of officials or staff employed, (b) the total amount of salaries, wages and allowances paid to such persons, and (c) the total expenditure on postage, stationery, telegrams and telephones; and if in respect of each of these headings he will indicate the savings which are to be effected in the current financial year.

(a) The total number of staff employed in the Irish Embassy, London, in 1955-56 was 29; (b) the total amount of salaries, wages and allowances was £27,442; (c) the total expenditure on postage, stationery, telegrams and telephones and teleprinter was as follows:—

£

Postage

316

Stationery

500

Telegrams

8

Telephones

419

Teleprinter

740

It is not possible to say at this stage what saving in expenditure will be effected in the current financial year.

Has the Government made any decision to ensure a reduction in such expenditure in view of the fact that throughout the country workmen are being laid off afforestation and other schemes of national importance?

That is an entirely separate question.

It has a very urgent bearing on the question.

I should like to remind the Deputy of the importance of our trade there and that our vital interests are watched through the London Embassy.

That is ridiculous.

Our goods might not be exported to the same extent——

Ridiculous.

Question No. 45.

asked the Minister for External Affairs whether it is proposed to effect in the current financial year a saving in expenditure in connection with the embassy in Paris and, if so, if he will give particulars.

The officers attached to the Embassy in Paris, in common with those serving at all our other Missions abroad, have received special instructions to intensify their efforts aimed at effecting the maximum economy possible without impeding the essential work of their Mission. It is not possible to say at this stage what saving in expenditure will result in the current financial year.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if, in respect of the embassies in London and Paris, he will state the number of officials engaged solely on work connected with the expansion of our agricultural export trade.

Technical officers of the Department of Agriculture concerned with the export of agricultural produce to Britain may from time to time be attached to the staff of the Embassy at London as a matter of administrative convenience. At present there is one such officer serving in Britain. Otherwise the expansion of our agricultural export trade is regarded as an integral part of the expansion of our export trade generally in so far as the work of the staffs of our Embassies in London and Paris is concerned. The work of the entire staff of each of these Embassies is directed, inter alia, towards that end to a greater or lesser degree. Some of the officials concerned are in fact employed exclusively on such work, i.e., the Counsellor (Economic); the First Secretary (Economic); a Higher Executive Officer; a Staff Officer and a Clerical Officer in London and a Trade Officer (part time) in Paris.

Is it not a fact that we have only one individual, namely an official seconded from the Department of Agriculture, responsible for trade on agricultural lines in London and Paris, and in view of the fact that our agricultural exports are the main exports from this country, would the Minister not consider that the time is now ripe to devote the time that is being wasted on alleged cultural matters towards the setting up of agricultural export trade sections in London and Paris?

The Deputy is making a speech.

If the Deputy had listened to the reply, he would have learned from the latter part of it, that some of the officials concerned and, in fact, employed exclusively on such work are, the Counsellor (Economic), First Secretary (Economic), a Higher Executive Officer, a Staff Officer and a Clerical Officer in London and a Trade Officer (part time) in Paris.

Concerned with agriculture—that is what I asked the Minister.

The Deputy cannot separate one section of our trade from another.

I want the Minister to answer the specific question that is down. I asked a question in relation to agriculture solely and the Minister has refused to answer that. How many officers are exclusively engaged on agricultural type of work?

I have not refused to answer it; I have given the information.

Is it not a fact that only one official is solely engaged on agriculture?

It is not a fact.

That is the answer there.

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