I refer the Deputy to the replies of 6 February 1996 to Questions Nos. 30, 57 and 75 and of 24 April 1996 to Question No. 65 and of 25 April 1996 to Question No. 5, which outline the additional staffing arrangements for the Department of Foreign Affairs for the period of the Irish Presidency.
The additional staff are required to enable the Department of Foreign Affairs to carry out its Presidency responsibilities efficiently and effectively. The 1996 Presidency will be more onerous and demanding than any of Ireland's previous Presidencies, in particular because of the substantial expansion in the activities of the European Union since the Maastricht Treaty and the fact that the Inter-Governmental Conference to review the Maastricht Treaty is taking place during our Presidency.
The current Presidency staffing position is as follows: