Vol. 525 No. 2
267 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that the new Honorary Consul in Pakistan, Mr. Hasib Ahsan, was appointed on the recommendation of his Fianna Fáil colleague, Deputy Ellis; and if he will furnish a copy of the said recommendation. [24567/00]
As is normal for appointments of this kind, representations were made to my predecessor by interested persons in Pakistan and Ireland on behalf of a number of candidates for the position of Honorary Consul in Karachi after it became vacant in 1998. Those representations included a letter by Deputy Ellis concerning Mr. Hasib Ahsan Mozzaffar. The Irish Ambassador to Pakistan interviewed 12 people who had expressed interest in the position and-or who had been recommended for it. On the basis of reports from the Ambassador and taking account of the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs, my predecessor, Deputy Andrews, in September 1999 decided that Mr Hasib Ahsan Mozzaffar was a suitable candidate for the post. Mr. Ahsan was appointed with the approval of the Pakistani authorities.
I am sending the Deputy a copy of the letter from Deputy Ellis.
