Billy Timmins
Ceist:84 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Irish consul to Cyprus was appointed; the criteria used for the appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26066/99]
Written Answers - Consular Appointment.
Billy Timmins
Ceist:85 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the review system, if any, in place on the appointment of consuls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26067/99]
I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.
An Irish Consulate was established in Cyprus and the current Honorary Consul was appointed in 1987 on the closure of the Irish Embassy, which had been temporarily located in Nicosia after the embassy in Beirut had to be closed for security reasons.
The criteria which apply to the establishment of consulates headed by honorary consuls and to honorary consular appointments generally and which applied in this case were the numbers of Irish citizens living in the country, the potential for developing economic relations and the need for assistance for the non-resident embassy, in Athens, in arranging official visits and a professional or business person who is well established and has good contacts with people in the political, administrative and business fields.
As in this case, honorary consuls are normally appointed initially for periods of three years and, if they perform satisfactorily, the appointments are extended. Appointments made since 1995 are extendable for periods of five years after the initial three-year period, so each such appointment is reviewed every five years.