asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department have any established procedure for entertaining international sports teams from this country in Irish embassies abroad; and, if so, if he will state the procedure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sports Teams Entertainment.
22.
Our embassies do not have special funds available to them for that purpose and so my Department can have no established procedure in the matter. However, an ambassador may, at his discretion, arrange a social occasion from his own funds if his and the visiting team's schedules permit. This would, of course, depend on such factors as the venue of the sporting event and the engagements programme of the visiting team being notified in advance to the embassy.
Surely the cost of such a reception would not have been very great. A recent Press report suggested that one of our teams were not brought to the embassy.
In the case in question unfortunately no notification was given and no contact made by the team or the association with either the Department or the embassy. It is the practice normally for teams visiting other countries who wish to have a reception at the embassy and meet people to notify their intention in advance. The Irish Rugby Football Union do so usually about three months in advance. In this instance the ambassador was away on other duties. He was in Nairobi at UNESCO. He arrived back in the morning. He had no sleep. He had a function that day but he went to the match that evening. I regret that owing to the fact that no contact was made no reception was held and I hope that in future associations will make contact in advance. Of course the question of arranging receptions is a matter for the ambassador or members of the embassy staff out of their own entertainment allowances. There is no special allowance but I know they are always anxious to use the provisions made for them in a hospitable way vis-à-vis people visiting from Ireland, especially people who come in a representative capacity.
Would the Minister indicate whether certain of our ambassadors make a differentiation between the games played by the visiting teams and, secondly, does he seriously expect the House to believe that with the whole Irish nation and a very large part of the French nation agog with excitement about this particular match the Irish embassy was unaware it was going to take place and, in those circumstances, does he not think it would have been a reasonably diplomatic tactic for the Irish embassy to make some inquiries about who was travelling and make some arrangements rather than wait with some old-fashioned Victorian outlook on life to see if someone would come knocking at the door looking for a free drink?
The Minister is not a football supporter.
No discrimination was made and, as far as the embassy is concerned, the most recent receptions given have been for members of a soccer team visiting France. There is no question of discrimination. It is unfortunate contact was not made and I regret that, in the absence of that contact, some initiative was not taken, but it does make it easier if organisations get in touch in advance. They usually get a very good welcome when they do so.
The embassy might have been aware that the match was taking place.
I think they probably were.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.