Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore today addressed the first day of the Ambassador's Conference on "Promoting Ireland Abroad" in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Minister spoke of the crucial role played by the Irish foreign service:
We gather here today, at a critical moment in our country’s history. I have invited you to return here to Dublin, to discuss the part that I, and the Government, are asking you to play in it...Restoring Ireland’s international reputation is a key priority for this Government. It is a priority for every Government Minister, whether they are at home or representing Ireland abroad. And we expect it to be a priority for every state agency abroad, and every diplomatic mission.
You, as heads of mission, are absolutely critical to that objective. You are the first point of contact between the Irish Government, and our partners and allies abroad. You provide an essential flow of information, not just back to Ireland, but to officials, institutions and businesses abroad. Not simply Ireland’s official representatives, you are our trade envoys; our cultural champions; our peace brokers and our peace builders.
Today marks the beginning of a major diplomatic initiative to restore, in the words of Robert Emmet, Ireland’s place among the nations of the earth. More than that: to prove that Ireland’s strengths; its dynamism; its capacity for entrepreneurship and for innovation; its cultural richness, make it an attractive place to do business; an exciting place to visit; and a rewarding ally in building the kind of world we want to pass on to future generations.
The Tánaiste also spoke of the importance of stabilising the public finances:
Stabilising the public finances is a vital pre-requisite, because we cannot achieve sustainable recovery without doing so. Export-led recovery is underway, but it is clear that the domestic economy needs to be restarted. With that in mind, we gave a firm commitment when we entered Government that we would get the economy moving, restore confidence, fix our banking system and support the protection and creation of jobs.
The Tánaiste noted that the extended role of the Department of Foreign Affairs to take in trade responsibilities was a result of the good work by Irish Ambassadors abroad:
I know that you have been working hard across the globe on economic and commercial issues, making the case for Ireland. This Department’s new enhanced role in trade promotion is, in part, recognition of the valuable contribution you have been making to our economic recovery and I want to ensure that the new arrangements coming into effect today will facilitate Irish businesses in plugging into your considerable experience and expertise....
The Tánaiste summed up his message:
Our message is the same, whether it is delivered in Chinese, in Japanese, in French, in Spanish or in German and the message is:
· that we are meeting our targets;
· that we have drawn a line under our banking problems;
· that the fundamentals of the Irish economy are strong;
· that we will record a balance of payments surplus this year;
· that we are returning to growth;
· that Ireland recorded the second highest trade surplus in the European Union after Germany last year;
· that Ireland is an innovation hub where hard-working people turn smart ideas into world-class goods and services;
· that Ireland is in the top 20 nations for quality of scientific research;
· that we continue to produce some of the greatest writers, musicians and artists the world has ever known;
· that prices and rents have fallen;
· that our corporation tax rate of 12.5% will not change; and
· that we are removing barriers to growth, boosting competitiveness and restoring order to our public finances.
The Tánaiste concluded in praising the Foreign Service for their work in the past :
Our small, but effective, Foreign Service has been at the heart of this country’s history and at each stage it has had to handle the major issues of the day affecting our national sovereignty.
Today, ladies and gentlemen, our economic sovereignty is in question and the country is looking to us to restore it.
You can view the Tánaiste's remarks at a press conference following his address today below:
You can read the Tánaiste's full speech here.