Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 December 2013
62. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a sum in euros of the value of trade conducted between Ireland and Iran for each year from 2011 to 2013; the annual cost of running the embassy there before it closed; his plans to reopen an embassy in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54905/13]
View answerThe decision to close Ireland’s Embassy in Teheran in 2011 followed a thorough review of the overseas diplomatic network in which particular attention was paid to the promotion of Irish economic interests and the economic return from missions abroad. Ireland’s diplomatic and consular network is comparatively modest in size and includes 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral Missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices. The size and deployment of the State’s network of missions abroad is kept under ongoing review and any possible future reconfiguration would have regard to national priorities and available resources. Those priorities include the State’s strategic economic and political interests, including trade and inward investment, support for Irish exporters, and the promotion of our values as regards human rights, the role of international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes within and among states. Total trade in goods between Ireland and Iran was €66.4million in 2011, €51.6million in 2012 and €43million from January to September 2013. Comparable statistics on trade in services are not readily available. The total administrative cost of running the Embassy for 2011 was €321,704. This figure includes all expenditure items charged to the Mission budget. Salaries and related costs of staff posted from Ireland are not included as they are a charge on the overall budget of the Department.
