The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D., has invited members of the public to contribute to a review of Ireland’s foreign policy.
This is the first official review of Ireland's foreign policy to be undertaken since the mid-1990s.
Announcing the public consultation process during a meeting with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Tánaiste said:
“Our foreign policy is a statement of who we are as a people. It is the means by which we promote our values and pursue our interests abroad. Through it, we pursue Ireland's economic prosperity and promote peace and security both at home and in the wider world.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade relentlessly pursues these goals on a daily basis. Ireland’s embassies and other diplomatic and consular offices around the world are working hard to support Irish business, encourage trade, tourism and investment, provide services to our citizens, and to stand up for Ireland's interests and our values.”
The Tánaiste encouraged the public to input to the Review of Ireland’s Foreign Policy and External Relations:
“In a rapidly changing global environment, the Government is committed to ensuring the maximum benefit from the resources we invest in our international engagement. We want to ensure that Ireland maintains a position of influence and respect in the global community. This review will help us do just that. I invite members of the public and interested stakeholders to contribute views so that we set the right goals and objectives for our foreign policy.”
Members of the public are invited to contribute views on any aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and external relations. Details are available on the Department’s website at www.dfat.ie.
Notes for Editors:
The Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations will provide an updated statement of Ireland’s foreign policy and identify a series of recommendations for its conduct. The aim is to ensure that the Government is equipped with the right mix of policies, instruments and structures to promote Ireland’s values and interests in a complex and changing global environment.
The outcome will be a policy document setting out the core objectives of Ireland’s foreign policy and the measures and instruments required to secure their delivery.
Submissions can be made in writing to the review team at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, by email to ForeignPolicyReview@dfat.ie, or by post to Foreign Policy Review, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, 79-80 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.
The public consultation process will run until 4 February 2014.