asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role played by Irish ambassadors abroad to promote the employment and industrial-commercial needs of the country; and if this role is extended to consuls general where there is not a resident ambassador.
Written Answers. - Ambassadors' Role.
25.
One of the primary aims of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to assist in the promotion of Ireland's economic interests abroad especially through the promotion of foreign earnings. The concept of foreign earnings embraces both the attraction of foreign investment to Ireland and the development of foreign markets for the export of goods and services.
The kind of activities engaged in by our diplomatic and consular missions includes for example, market research, assistance to visiting Irish exporters, support for trade missions, and such other appropriate assistance as might be required in specific circumstances on behalf of Irish companies. Where necessary, diplomatic missions are also involved in discussions at government to government level.
The way in which this important work is conducted varies according to the different conditions and circumstances prevailing in various foreign countries. All embassies and consulates are actively engaged in the promotion of our economic interests but the extent of a particular mission's involvement is largely dependent on whether the relevant semi-State bodies have offices or not in the area covered by the diplomatic mission. Where semi-State bodies such as CTT, IDA, Bord Fáilte, Aer Lingus, CBF etc. are directly represented through resident offices, embassies support and complement their work. Irish consulates general are fully involved in the promotional process and are under the control of the ambassador who is accredited either on a resident or non-resident basis to the country in question.