John Paul Phelan
Question:596. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated initial cost and ongoing annual costs of his proposal to reopen an Irish embassy in Iran. [63257/22]
View answerWednesday, 18 January 2023
Questions (596)
Written answers
The Irish Embassy in Iran was closed in 2012 for financial reasons. In 2021 the Government decided to re-establish an Irish diplomatic presence in Iran in two phases. The first phase began in August 2021 with the appointment of a Chargé d’affaires in Tehran, co-located in the German Embassy in Tehran, with the Irish Embassy in Ankara remaining accredited to Iran. The second phase involves the re-opening of the Embassy in Tehran in 2023.
While planning is underway on this basis, as with all Embassy openings, plans are regularly reviewed in the light of political and security developments. I would note that there is strong EU engagement with Iran, and 22 EU Member States have a diplomatic presence in Tehran.
As is the case with all Ireland’s diplomatic contacts with other governments, the input and analysis from Irish diplomats and officials on the ground play an essential role in ensuring that our policy and political discussions, at all levels, are as informed and impactful as possible. An Irish Embassy in Tehran will also allow Ireland to more effectively deliver clear and firm messages directly to the Iranian government, including on issues like human rights and Iran’s nuclear activities.
Ireland’s diplomatic presence since August 2021 has been critical for engagement with Iran on a number of key regional files we have worked on at the UN Security Council, including Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and the Iran nuclear deal. Those issues continue to be priorities for Ireland after our term on the Council. While there is a relatively small population of Irish citizens living in Iran, and trade is currently limited due to the impact of sanctions, Iran remains a country with significant influence on the political, security, and economic dynamics of the broader Middle East.
Costs included as part of the 2021 memo to government included an estimated €1.5 million per annum, plus a one-off fit out cost of a new Chancery of around €1 million. The cost of the mission for 2021 was €87,000 and the estimated cost, pending final accounts for 2022, was €284,000. The budget for 2023 remains to be finalised.