Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2011
49 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if embassies are going to be strategically located to emerging markets in 2012 in order that Irish products and exports can benefit from their presence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27245/11]
View answerIrish embassies worldwide perform a wide range of functions in support of Ireland's national interests. Since taking office, I have directed that all embassies and consulates should redouble their efforts in promoting trade, supporting Irish business and seeking out new markets. In practical terms, this means embassies are actively promoting an awareness of Ireland and its business potential; assisting Irish companies in gaining and maintaining access for their goods and services; reporting on economic and business trends and developments; assisting in the resolution of problematic regulatory issues; maintaining a network of high level business related contacts; and providing assistance and support for other Departments, agencies and, as appropriate, individual companies. Despite the modest scale of our network and the small size of our embassies, this is something we have been successful at and will continue to prioritise.
Underpinning this approach, my Department is focused on progressively implementing, with other Departments and State agencies, the recommendations made in the strategy and action plan for Irish trade, tourism and investment to 2015. A thorough analysis, conducted last year, of the potential for Ireland in terms of markets and sectors identified a number of priority markets. These are in both established and emerging economies. There is already an embassy in each of the priority markets identified in the strategy and ambassadors at these locations chair local trade, tourism and investment teams. With the active participation of the relevant State agencies, these teams have prepared annual market development plans to support our trade objectives.
I welcome the establishment of the Export Trade Council. Specifically, will the Tánaiste indicate if within our embassies there is a strategic plan for the promotion of trade and tourism? It is all very well to have an idea that we should be out there, but unless we work to a very specific and appropriate plan, we will get nowhere. How many new diplomatic missions are envisaged or planned in the context of the need to aggressively promote ourselves in the trade sector? How many missions are without an ambassador? For example, we are without an ambassador in Australia. How long, on average, does it take to replace somebody when he or she retires or leaves a post?
It is important to state the total number of embassies is 76, with most of our missions having three diplomatic staff or fewer. Seven missions have one diplomat. In talking about a strategic plan, in most of our embassies it is to multi-task and perform a range of functions. These include consular activity, intergovernmental work and leading the trade effort.
In dealing with the trade effort the embassies lead a market team, involving agencies such as the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland. This team, in turn, feeds into the work of the Export Trade Council which co-ordinates activity across all Government agencies. The council is chaired by me and other ministerial colleagues. Four embassies have vacancies. We are looking at the embassy network in the context of the comprehensive spending review. I intend to bring proposals to the Government shortly in respect of the ambassadorial posts to be filled.
When will the important post in Australia be filled?
It will be filled very soon. I do not want to be evasive on the matter. The post has been vacant since August. Normally the filling of an ambassadorial post takes time for a variety of reasons, including the movement of individuals from one place to another. I intend to bring proposals to the Government shortly in respect of the ambassadorial posts to be filled.
