Diplomatic Representation
Dail Éireann — 2022-06-23
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Simon Coveney (FG), Cork South-Central

I would expect an Opposition Member of the Deputy's experience to take some time to understand how ambassadors are appointed, how they are recommended and the process whereby recommendations come to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, predominantly from the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and then have to go to Government for approval in the normal way. That is what happened here. As I said, there is an assessment as to suitability for certain roles. The way in which Ireland appoints ambassadors is predominantly by means of an internal process within the Civil Service. Within the Department of Foreign Affairs, most of the time people move between different posts on the basis of their skill sets, experience, suitability and the relationships we have with the relevant countries at particular times.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2022-06-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-06-23