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Diplomatic Representation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2014

Thursday, 27 March 2014

Questions (37)

Brendan Smith

Question:

37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the Ireland House concept was first initiated; the number of locations that have an embassy-consulate co-located with the offices of other State agencies; when such developments took place; if there are proposals to develop further such facilities; if so, if he will name the locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14636/14]

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Written answers

In 1987, the Government formulated a policy to bring together, where feasible, our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and the offices of state agencies in a single location, designated as “Ireland House”. The precise model for implementing such an arrangement would, of course, vary and have to reflect local conditions and other factors. In all cases, the arrangement is one designed to increase the impact of Ireland’s presence abroad, to improve coordination among all parties, and to maximise cost-efficiencies. The policy has been implemented on a gradual basis over the intervening years and I regret that it is not possible in the time available to give a detailed chronological narrative as to when each development took place. There are a number of types of Ireland House which include our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and the offices of state agencies operating from the same premises. These are currently operating in 19 locations overseas. The largest is in New York and comprises the Consulate General, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA in addition to other agencies including Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia, the American Ireland Fund and CIE Tours.

Missions at Boston, Brussels, Budapest, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Riyadh and Warsaw share premises with Enterprise Ireland. Our missions at Moscow, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo accommodate both Enterprise Ireland and IDA offices. The Consulate General in Shanghai shares premises with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, and also Bord Bia and an agent for Tourism Ireland; the Ireland House in Madrid includes offices of Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland, together with the Embassy. Other configurations prevail elsewhere including at Embassy Beijing which shares premises with the IDA; Embassy Stockholm which shares space with Bord Bia; Embassy New Delhi which operates from shared premises with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland; and Ireland’s Consulate General in Atlanta which operates from the same location as the IDA.

In addition, there are a number of other locations where state agencies share facilities with each other in the form of an Ireland House, which does not include the Irish diplomatic mission to that particular country. For example, in Paris, the IDA, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and BIM operate an Ireland House.

The Ireland House concept has been implemented where practicable and further opportunities are considered whenever missions or agencies are opening or moving to new locations. I can confirm that the potential for further Ireland House arrangements will be considered in the implementation of the recent Government Decision to expand the diplomatic network.

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