Vol. 377 No. 9
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any embassies or missions abroad have, or are due to be, closed arising from the 1988 Estimates; if the nature of our diplomatic representation abroad has changed as a result; and, the areas in which the trading house concept is to be developed for purposes of rationalisation.
30.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish embassies abroad in 1970, 1980, 1985 and 1987 respectively; and if he has plans to open any new embassies or close any of those existing.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 30 together.
The number of Irish embassies existing in the years 1970, 1980, 1985 and 1987 were as follows: 1970, 18; 1980, 29; 1985, 29; 1987, 29.
In the years in question, there were also three Irish Permanent Representations or Missions headed at ambassador level. These were the permanent missions to the United Nations in New York and Geneva and our permanent representation to the European Communities in Brussels.
There are no plans at the present time to open new embassies. The embassy in Nairobi is in the process of being closed in accordance with the Government decision relating to the achievement of savings on overseas representation expenditure in 1988. The development co-operation office in Khartoum was closed last month. There are no plans to close any other embassy or mission.
It is proposed to maintain diplomatic relations with Kenya on a non-resident basis. It is also proposed to continue to maintain formal relations with Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, countries to which our ambassador in Nairobi has also been concurrently accredited. Similarly our ambassador in Cairo will continue to be accredited to Sudan, as he is at present.
I do not believe that the trading house concept referred to in the last part of Deputy McDowell's question has any connection with the subject of diplomatic representation abroad. Trading houses will be private commercial bodies established under licence by my colleague, the Minister for Industry and Commerce. I am sure that he would be happy to explain this concept further, if asked to do so.
