Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ambassador to Libya.

Brian Cowen

Ceist:

54 Mr. Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the person who was the Ambassador to Italy accredited to Libya after the late CP Fogarty and before the current Ambassador, HE Small; the number of visits he/she made to Libya; the business transacted during the visits; and the date he/she presented his/her credentials to the Libyan authorities. [14526/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I refer the Deputy to my answer to his written questions of 5 June 1996 and 11 June 1996, which gave details of ministerial and diplomatic visits to Libya since 1991.

The last Irish Ambassador to present credentials in Libya was the late Ambassador Fogarty, who presented his credentials in Tripoli on 13 October 1987 and served until December 1991 in that capacity. The last ambassadorial visit to Libya was on 6-10 October 1991.

In November 1991 the Government approved the nomination of Ambassador Patrick O'Connor, Ambassador Fogarty's successor as Ambassador to Italy, as Ambassador to Libya. Ambassador O'Connor did not have the opportunity to present credentials in Libya during his term of office, although diplomatic contacts with Libya continued on a regular basis as outlined in my reply of 11 June 1996.

The Government has nominated the current Irish Ambassador to Italy, Joseph Small, as Ambassador to Libya and arrangements are being made for his accreditation by agreement with the Libyan authorities.