I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 595 together.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (VCDR) identifies three categories of Mission staff as follows:
- Diplomatic staff
- Administrative and Technical staff, and
- Service staff
Pursuant to Article 10, VCDR, the Department of Foreign Affairs shall be notified, inter alia, of the appointment of members of the Mission, their arrival and their final departure or the termination of their functions with the Mission.
The number of staff at each Mission fluctuates regularly due to the staff rotations of the sending States which have Missions in Ireland.
Pursuant to Article 11 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (VCDR), in the absence of a specific agreement as to the size of a Mission, the host State may require that the size of a Mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the host State and to the needs of the particular Mission.
In general, Ireland's practice has been not to enter into specific agreements regarding the size of individual Missions or to require that the size of individual Missions be kept within specified limits pursuant to Article 11
Ireland continues to keep our policies and practices in this regard under review and, like all host states, has the option of engaging on the issue of staffing levels with any individual Mission as required, pursuant to Article 11 of the VCDR.
