Ireland's, Embassies Galore
national |
anti-capitalism |
opinion/analysis
Sunday June 03, 2018 09:23
by Joe Terry
In an advanced technological communications era, what a waste and nonsense to even contemplate opening yet another embassy to add to the seventy-four existing Irish missions across the world?
Israel, a country funded by the USA to the tune of three billion dollars a year, is contemplating closing its Dublin embassy due to budget cuts. Israel’s Dublin embassy is one of twenty-two embassies and consulates earmarked for closure.
Ireland, in contrast, according to an announcement by An Taoiseach Mr Varadkar at a Shannon Chamber of Commerce event at Dromoland Castle
confirmed the Irish Government will increase the number of Irish embassies this year and will soon have a diplomatic presence in Mumbai in India, New Zealand, Bogota, in Columbia, Santiago in Chile and a presence in Vancouver in Canada and Oman in Jordan. It is not inconceivable that these embassies will have on their inventories red roll-out carpets so as to fete the great EU statesman, An Taoiseach, when he arrives in pomp and glory to perform the official openings of those embassies, perhaps in Mumbai, a special eastern handwoven deep-pile rug.
In an advanced technological communications era, what a waste and nonsense to even contemplate opening yet another embassy to add to the seventy-four existing Irish missions across the world?
Meanwhile, in Ireland, the health service is in a mess, the EU imposed banking debt stands, no sign of the housing and health crisis being resolved is evident and so many continue to suffer the effects of austerity, EU imposed with the collaboration of an overpaid easily cajoled establishment cadre.
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Jump To Comment: 1Embassies and consulates serve two important functions in addition to diplomacy. They enhance trade opportunities for Irish exporters. They ply soft power in the countries where opened. Soft power in diplomacy follows on from the historic work of Irish missionaries during the twentieth century and, in diminishing numbers, into the current century. Mexico, Chile and other Latin American states also have notable achievements in the Irish diaspora from the early 19th century; Bernardo O'Higgins of Sligo ancestry and other contributors to the development of independent nations being among them. Irish diplomacy is seriously building on historical goodwill to promote Irish exports and encourage tourism. Middle Eastern states have employed doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers in recent decades, and require dairy products, medical equipment, bottled spring water and other things produced in Ireland. Countries of Asia, notably China and India, also require milk products and processed baby foods from a trustworthy green agricultural country. Consulates can be run effectively with small staffing. Sometimes professional Irish people in countries like Malawi have served as honorary consuls. As Ireland braces itself for Brexit it becomes ever more important that wider markets are developed for Irish produce.