Austin Deasy
Question:15 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of embassies and consulates this country has throughout the world; and the number of these which have had trade missions attached in the same building or complex.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Embassies and Consulates.
At present Ireland maintains 34 resident embassies and consulates overseas. This number is made up as follows: 30 embassies and four consulates general, staffed by career officers; In addition we have 3 permanent representations — to the UN in New York, the UN in Geneva and to the EC in Brussels respectively — and 3 development co-operation offices. We also have a total of 44 honorary consuls throughout the world.
Five of our embassies have had trade missions attached in the same building or complex.
Deputy Deasy clearly had in mind the trade aspect in tabling this question. Has the Minister given any consideration to the greater co-ordination of our effort abroad through the embassies from the point of view of trade and tourism and from the point of view of establishing the Ireland incorporated image abroad that would give commercial benefit to this country?
This aspect of the issue was dealt with at length by the Taoiseach here on 12 April last. My question related merely to statistics. A number of our missions have trade missions attached, for instance Moscow, Riyadh, Beijing, Soeul and Lagos. We are at present trying to pursue a policy of accommodating all Irish offices abroad in a single building if possible. The feasibility of bringing this about in New York and Tokyo is at present being examined.
The Minister referred to our permanent representation to the UN. Is it the Government's intention to continue to make all embassy appointments from the ranks of the Department of Foreign Affairs and will appointments to related agencies in the UN be advertised publicly as envisaged in the UN Charter?
If the Deputy is serious about that question, he should put down a separate question.
I will.
Does the Minister have any proposals to extend from 30 the number of embassies? Has he any proposal for another embassy in Africa considering the movement particularly in the southern African region?
Having regard to the financial circumstances in which we have to operate the prospects for increasing our missions abroad as of now are somewhat slight.
Will the Minister indicate whether the number of embassies and consulates include embassies in the three Baltic States? If they are not included will he indicate when the Government intend to open formal diplomatic relations with these newly independent States?
That is a separate question.