Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005
223 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a new honorary consul has been appointed in Ecuador; if so, when the consul was appointed; if not, when the appointment will be made; if the Irish Consul Office in Ecuador is operational; if so, when it came into operation; if not, when it will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15478/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of appointing a new honorary consul is at present under active consideration and it is hoped to approve a nominee for the position very shortly. However, before an appointment can be confirmed, the agreement of the Ecuadorian authorities must also be obtained. Pending finalisation of the appointment, Irish citizens in Ecuador may seek consular assistance from the embassy of any other EU member state in Quito. They may also contact the Embassy of Ireland in Buenos Aires, which is monitoring the situation in Ecuador in relation to consular assistance.
Honorary consuls are not full-time employees of the State but are private individuals who undertake, in addition to their normal work, to provide a range of consular services to Irish citizens abroad. As a condition of their appointment, honorary consuls undertake to put in place the necessary staff and office resources to provide these consular services.
