Vol. 395 No. 4
24 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the present diplomatic links Ireland has with the various Eastern European countries; and, in view of the enormous changes which have taken place in recent months, if there are any proposals to increase our diplomatic representations in these countries.
27 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, having regard to the democratic transformation that has occurred in Central and Eastern Europe, the Irish Government is contemplating opening honorary consulates, embassies or consuls with residency status in the Republic of Hungary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, having regard to the democratic transformation that has occurred in Central and Eastern Europe, the Irish Government are contemplating opening honorary consulates, embassies or consuls with residency status in the Republic of Czechoslovakia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
64 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs , if, having regard to the democratic transformation that has occurred in Central and Eastern Europe, the Irish Government is contemplating opening honorary consulates, embassies or consuls with residency status in the Republic of Poland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 27, 57 and 64 together.
The Government are closely following and warmly welcome developments in Central and Eastern European states which are leading them towards becoming fully pluralist and democratic societies. We fully support moves under way in the European Community and in the western world to underpin these developments.
At the present time, we have diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia, Hungary, German Democratic Republic, Poland, Yugoslavia and the USSR. We have an ambassador resident in Moscow while in the case of the other states mentioned, our ambassadors are non-resident. At the present time we do not have diplomatic relations with Albania, Bulgaria or Romania.
Our network of diplomatic relations, both resident and non-resident, is small and must remain so for the foreseeable future given our limited financial and personnel resources. Possibilities for its extension are examined from time to time in the light of our national and international interests and the availability of the necessary resources. Announcements are made, at the appropriate time, following such review exercises. It would be wrong and contrary to internatinal practice, however, to speculate publicly on their outcome. The exchange of resident or non-resident ambassadors is a matter for prior discussion and agreement between the Government and the other Government or Governments concerned. Similar considerations apply in the case of the establishment of consulates.
