Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2005
156 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of EU states in which Ireland has an embassy; his plans to open embassies in the EU and throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7639/05]
View answer258 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish embassies abroad; his proposals to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7998/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 258 together.
At present there are 64 resident Irish missions abroad: 49 embassies, 12 consulates general and other offices and 6 multilateral missions. Details of these missions follow for the Deputies' information.
Ireland currently has embassies located in 21 EU member states, namely: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
In order to complete our network of resident missions in all of the EU member states and in the countries which will accede in 2007 the Government in December 2004 approved the opening of resident missions in Malta, Latvia and Lithuania and in Bulgaria and Romania.
In addition, following the Government's decision to designate Vietnam as a programme country for development cooperation, we plan to open a resident mission in that country.
On the assumption that all logistical issues can be resolved for these locations it is expected these new missions will be opened in the second half of this year.
The opening of new Irish missions is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. As the Deputy will appreciate, however, constraints on Government expenditure and the limits on the resources that can be made available require that the expansion of our diplomatic network must be incremental and be based on a thorough assessment of the costs and benefits involved.
Location of Irish Embassies, Permanent Missions, Consulates General and other offices
Location of Irish Embassies
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
China
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Egypt
Ethiopia
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holy See
Hungary
India
Iran
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea, Republic of
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Mozambique
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tanzania
Turkey
Uganda
United Kingdom
U.S.A.
Zambia
Permanent Missions
Council of Europe — Strasbourg
European Union — Brussels
OSCE — Vienna
United Nations — New York
United Nations — Geneva
OECD and UNESCO — Paris
Consulates-General and other offices
Sydney, Australia
Shanghai, China
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Cardiff, United Kingdom
New York, United States of America
Boston, United States of America
Chicago, United States of America
San Francisco, United States of America
Partnership for Peace — Brussels Liaison Office
Irish Aid Office — East Timor
Ramallah — West Bank Representative Office
Lesotho
