Honorary consuls are appointed essentially to respond to a need for the provision of consular services for a significant body of Irish citizens in a particular country or region and to promote Irish economic interests in the area. Ideally, the person appointed should be well established and be of good repute in the area in question. He or she should be known to the Irish community and to the local administration, and should have business connections which would be beneficial to Irish economic interests. The successful candidate would normally be the one, among those interested in the position, who is considered to come closest to this ideal. Not all of our honorary consuls are Irish but, other things being equal, preference would normally be given to a suitably qualified candidate of Irish nationality or background.
Candidates are invited to complete a standard application form. Their background is then verified and they are interviewed by the Department or by the appropriate Irish Embassy. When a decision is made as to which of the applicants appears best suited for the position, the consent of the host government is sought and when that has been obtained, I make the appointment.
As indicated in this House on 1 May this year, I am currently considering candidates to fill the vacant post of Honorary Consul of Ireland in Peru. All applications received to date are being examined on their merits and applications from other suitable candidates would be welcome. Any representations received on behalf of a particular candidate will be borne in mind when I come to make the decision on the honorary consul appointment in question.
