Brendan Smith
Ceist:49 Mr. B. Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals, if any, she has to expand the Ireland House concept; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22573/97]
Written Answers. - Ireland House Expansion.
The Foreign Earnings Committee, which is chaired by Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, and which includes the chief executives of the promotional agencies and senior officials from relevant Government Departments, is responsible for ensuring the effective co-ordination of Ireland's overseas promotional activities. The committee's remit also includes examining opportunities for the consolidation, whenever possible, of our overseas diplomatic, commercial and consular offices into Ireland Houses to ensure the most effective use of available resources.
Representation has already been consolidated on this basis in New York, Tokyo, Prague, Budapest and Kuala Lumpur and an Ireland House was recently opened in Madrid by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Earnings Committee will continue to review possibilities for the expansion of the Ireland House concept to other locations where it can be justified in terms of cost-effectiveness and the enhancement of the representation of Ireland's interests.