asked the Minister for External Affairs if each of Ireland's ambassadors abroad has a fluent knowledge of the languages of the country to which he is accredited.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Ambassadors' Knowledge of Languages.
4.
All our Ambassadors speak at least one of the languages commonly used in the countries to which they are accredited.
Would that include all our representatives?
Yes. I might add that, if Deputy Cluskey wants to go to Vietnam, he need not wait to apply for a passport until he has learned Vietnamese.
Very funny.
Would the Minister not agree it must be rather difficult for our Ambassador in India, where there are approximately 220 dialects, to keep the Minister fully informed?
The Deputy needs only to know English to make inquiry into the Labour Party to find out what is wrong with it when Deputy Dunne is against sending a RTE team to Vietnam. But if Deputy Cluskey wants to go, he will get a passport, and welcome.
I have a passport—a diplomatic passport.
(Interruptions.)