We do not have a full house, but there is a good attendance here this evening. As usual, I remind members and those in the Visitors' Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting, as they cause interference with the recording equipment even when in silent mode. I ask that everybody respect this instruction and ensure their phones are switched off completely.
This is our second committee meeting this week. We had a meeting yesterday on the OSCE and members were anxious to have a meeting to discuss the closure of three Irish embassies abroad. I am pleased to welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, to the committee this afternoon to discuss the recent announcement that Ireland is to close its embassies in Iran, Timor-Leste and the Holy See. The Minister is accompanied by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Mr. David Cooney, Secretary General, Ms Angela O'Farrell, Mr. Barrie Robinson, Ms Dearbhla Doyle, and of course Mr. Liam MacGabhann, with whom I had the pleasure of spending a week, along with some other members of the committee, in Ethiopia recently. I thank Mr. MacGabhann sincerely for the time he spent with us and for his co-operation on the visit. That he is a former ambassador to Malawi made the visit very successful and I thank him for that.
It is appropriate to welcome three new ambassadors who presented their credentials to President Higgins last week, namely, the new ambassador of Italy, Maurizio Zanini; the ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr. Alphonse Berns; and the ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Muhamet Hamiti. We, as a committee, look forward to meeting the three new ambassadors in the very near future. We had a great relationship with the former ambassador of Italy who has now returned to Rome. We will meet the new ambassadors in the very near future.
It is late and I thank the Tánaiste for attending today's meeting, the purpose of which is to discuss the Government's decision to close the embassies in the Holy See and Iran and the mission in Timor Leste. We all recognise that the decision to close the missions was taken in the context of financial restraints facing all Departments. Members of the joint committee have concerns about the closure of the missions and we believe it is an appropriate time to discuss these with the Tánaiste.
Ireland is often referred to as a small country with a big footprint internationally. Each mission closure potentially will have a discernible impact on our international standing, but the decision of most note is the one to close the Embassy to the Holy See and losing direct access to what may regarded as the foremost listening post to the world. Also, the Vatican is a place of particular renaissance for historical and religious reasons for many Irish people.
The decision to close the embassy in Iran has been made at a time when Iran's relationship with Europe is increasingly strained. It seems somewhat counter-intuitive to decide to weaken our bilateral relationship. If we believe in the power of diplomacy, we must believe that we must be there on the grounds of keeping dialogue open in these difficult times having regard to the tense situation that exists there.
The closure of the mission in Timor Leste fits with the substantial cuts to Ireland Aid's budget announced in the budget. Putting aside the strong ethical arguments which can be made to protect the aid budget, it is also the case that our aid programme is one of the most respected in the world and it is essential as part of our international reputation.
This is just to articulate some of the concerns voiced since the time the decision on these closures was taken. I am aware that members also have other concerns. I have been contacted by a number of NGOs regarding the human rights situation in Timor Leste which have requested that we would continue to monitor the situation there. I have concerns about Iran in that regard as well. Several Iranian delegations to Ireland have visited Irish universities in particular during the past six months and Iran is planning to send more PhD scholarship students to Irish universities. I understand people there are working to send an Iranian veterinary delegation here in the near future to prepare the ground for the re-establishment of the beef and meat trade between the two countries. These are areas of concern.
I invite the Tánaiste to address the committee following which we will have a question and answer session.