asked the Minister for External Affairs his attitude to the summary dismissal of the National Correspondent in Ireland of the Council of Europe, simultaneously with the dismissal of other correspondents in other member States, by a decision of the Foreign Ministers.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Council of Europe Correspondents.
4.
The contract of the National Correspondent in Ireland of the Council of Europe, as well as those of all the other correspondents in member States, was terminated at the end of three months notice. The Irish representative in the Committee of Ministers Deputies opposed the termination but the proposal was carried by more than the required two-thirds majority.
Could the Minister say if it is likely that some other Irish representative will be appointed in his place or am I to understand that we have no Irish correspondent attached to the Council of Europe?
The situation is that the Council of Europe cancelled the contracts of all the correspondents.
Would the Minister not agree that that leaves it open for a further Irish representative to be appointed? Is that possible?
No. They have cancelled the whole policy of having correspondents in member States.