asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) the number and grades of diplomatic posts in the Irish Embassy in London on 1 January, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1983; (b) the reasons for the increases; and (c) the cost to the Exchequer of the London Embassy in 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1983.
Written Answers. - Irish Embassy, London.
331.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement and detailed footnotes, I proposed to circulate it in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
(a) No. and grades of diplomatic posts in the Embassy in London
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
|
on 1 January 1965 |
on 1 January 1970 |
on 1 January 1975 |
on 1 January 1980 |
on 1 January 1983 |
|
|
Ambassador |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Minister Plenipotentiary |
– |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Counsellor |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
First Secretary |
1 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Third Secretary and equivalent grades |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
|
Total |
10 |
11 |
16 |
16 |
15 |
Notes on Col. 1:
5 of the 10 posts were filled by officers seconded from other Departments.
Two posts of Counsellor were filled by officers from the Departments of Agriculture and Industry and Commerce.
Two posts at Third Secretary level were filled by officers from the Department of Agriculture (one of these was Trade Officer in Liverpool) and one post by an officer from the Department of Industry and Commerce.
(b) Reasons for staff increases
Col. 2:
One Counsellor post was upgraded to Minister Plenipotentiary because of the higher level of contacts in Anglo/Irish relations.
An extra officer at Third Secretary level was seconded from the Department of Agriculture because of the increased workload arising from the growth in agricultural trade.
Col. 3:
The five years from 1970-1975 marked the period of greatest expansion by the Embassy since it was established. In all the number of the diplomatic staff increased by 5.
Three posts — one each at Counsellor, First Secretary and Third Secretary level—were established to deal with the growing volume of work relating to press and Northern Ireland affairs.
One post of Third Secretary, Agriculture, was upgraded to First Secretary because of the increase in the level of duties and responsibilities.
A new post of Labour Attache was created at First Secretary level to which an officer of the Department of Labour was seconded.
A post of First Secretary was created to deal with European political affairs following accession by Ireland to the European Communities.
Col. 4:
No change.
Col. 5:
One post of Third Secretary, Agriculture, was suppressed following the closure of the Trade Office in Liverpool.
(c) Cost of Embassy
Figures for the total cost of the embassy to the exchequer are available in respect of recent years only as the computerisation of accounts in the Department was not completed until 1980 and accurate records are not readily available for earlier years. The total cost to the Votes for Foreign Affairs and the Office of Public Works for the embassy in London for 1981 and 1982 amounted to: 1981, £789,000; 1982, £1,026,000.