John Deasy
Ceist:61 Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the cost of running the Irish Embassy in Washington DC per annum. [22567/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 3 May 2012
Ceisteanna (61)
Freagraí scríofa
The administrative costs associated with running the Embassy in Washington DC from 2008 to 2011 to date are provided below. This budget is considered to be the locally-devolved administrative (day-to-day) budget including local staff salaries but not salaries of diplomatic staff, which are a charge on the Headquarters budget. In line with overall Departmental cost-containment policies, the Mission constantly monitors its budget and the costs for 2011 are less than those incurred in the preceding years. Our Mission in Washington is actively engaged in representing and advancing Irish government policies in the United States and maintaining and further developing our excellent bilateral relationship with the United States, one of our most important relationships both politically and economically. US investment in Ireland continues to be crucial to our economy and the US friendship and support has been hugely important in the success of the peace process over many years.
The Embassy in Washington is putting an ever increasing focus on developing Ireland's bilateral economic relations, and trade and investment links and engaging with the US. The Embassy maintains strong relations with the US Administration and Congress on issues likely to affect Ireland's exports, inward investment and other key interests. The Embassy also promotes business and economic ties, for example this year through its promotion of the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) 2012 Dublin City of Science in the US and through the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between US Department Energy and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for co-operation in marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies.
The Embassy also provides frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens. In conjunction with Ireland's friends on Capitol Hill and throughout the Irish-American community, it also seeks to identify and promote solutions on immigration issues as they affect Irish people and undocumented Irish migrants in particular. It engages with the Irish and Irish American communities and harnesses the resource they offer in assisting economic recovery. The Embassy also contributes to promoting Irish arts and culture in the US.
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
|
Administrative Costs for Embassy Washington |
€1,170,402 |
€1,200,800 |
€1,236,780 |
€1,072,065 |