Vol. 529 No. 1
222 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of civil servants within his Department, or known to his Department if in other Departments, who are assigned exclusively or primarily to the personal and social welfare of Irish citizens living overseas; the grades involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1012/01]
The personal and social welfare of Irish citizens living overseas is of primary concern to all officers employed in our missions overseas. While the ambassador and most embassy staff abroad at various times and in different ways contribute to the needs of the Irish community in their area I could not state that they are devoted exclusively or primarily to their welfare.
The role of staff in embassies abroad is varied. Generally, in each mission abroad the junior diplomatic officer, usually at third secretary grade, and one locally recruited member of staff deal with consular matters concerning Irish citizens on the ground. Diplomatic staff respond not only to their consular needs but also maintain regular contact with Irish community organisations. They encourage and support social and cultural activities by the Irish community, provide hospitality to representatives of the Irish community and monitor and respond to the changing needs and priorities of the Irish community within their areas.
In Britain, however, where there is a large Irish community, there are three officers – one assistant principal-first secretary, one third secretary and one higher executive officer – who are primarily assigned to the personal and social welfare of Irish citizens in Britain. In addition, there are two clerical officers who work exclusively with Irish citizens on specific requirements in the consular area and two executive officers who spend a significant amount of time devoted to consular matters. There is also a fully operational passport office in London which issues 40,000 passports annually.
A large proportion of the time of the consulates-general in Cardiff, Edinburgh, New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Sydney – one first secretary, one third secretary and two to three support staff in each – is also devoted to servicing the needs of the Irish communities and individual citizens in their areas of responsibility. In addition, the Department has a network of 66 honorary consuls in 48 countries whose prime responsibility relates to the consular needs of Irish citizens.
