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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 3

Written Answers. - Diplomatic Service.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

94 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount expended on the honorary consul service in 2000; the estimated cost for 2001; the number of such honorary consuls; and if there are any plans to expand the service and develop the role of Honorary Consul. [7294/01]

The expenditure incurred by consular missions headed by honorary consular officers, according to accounts they submitted to my Department in 2000, on items such as telephone calls, fax messages and photocopying was £78,524. In addition, those missions were allowed to retain half the consular fees they collected, an amount of £108,504. Honorary consular officers receive honoraria of £500 a year each, payments which totalled £35,489 last year. The expenditure by the State in maintaining these missions, therefore, amounted to £222,517, but that was offset to the extent of £108,504 by the half of consular fees they remitted to the Department.

It is estimated that expenditure this year will be £230,000 and that it will be offset to the extent of £115,000 by half of consular receipts to be remitted. There are currently 72 honorary consular officers – 23 Honorary Consuls-General and 49 Honorary Consuls – in 50 countries.

Our network of consulates headed by honorary consular officers is under constant review and is gradually being expanded as the need for new missions emerges and provided persons suitable for appointment are available. Their main functions will continue to be the consular protection of Irish citizens living in or visiting the country or area in which they are located, the development of economic relations between Ireland and that country or area and, where relevant, processing applications for Irish visas.

The services provided by our honorary consular officers, sometimes at some considerable inconvenience to themselves, are greatly appreciated and I pay tribute to their dedication and commitment.

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