MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has been told the most immediate external challenge facing him is to rehabilitate Ireland’s reputation, “which has been badly tarnished by the financial and banking crisis”.
As a result, his department has advised that it would be “desirable” if Government members coherently and consistently explained at a national level the relevance of European Union developments and the role the EU can play in helping the State to the point of “recovery and growth”.
Briefing material provided to the Minister on his appointment says Ireland is now in the position of “being under particular conditionality and scrutiny” after receiving an EU-IMF bailout.
It says the “economic fall from grace” was a setback to the State’s “generally high standing in the EU”, as was the initial rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.
“In the circumstances, a sustained effort to enhance engagement with fellow members and institutions, at all levels from ministerial on down, is necessary, as well as constructive input to the union’s various debates,” it adds.
“At national level, coherence across government on EU affairs and consistent explanation of EU developments and of the part the EU can play in recovery and growth is desirable.”
It stresses the importance of restoring confidence in Ireland and its economy by raising exports and inward investment through proactive engagement and delivering “targeted messages”.
The material was released to The Irish Timesunder the Freedom of Information Act.
It says the Department of Foreign Affairs faces “unique difficulties” in decentralising its development co-operation division to Limerick because of the public service promotions embargo.
Staff from two of the three grades eligible for decentralisation – diplomatic and development specialists – are required to rotate between posts at headquarters and in overseas missions.
It has proved “increasingly difficult to achieve the agreement of more than a very small number of staff in diplomatic grades to triangulate between their home base in Dublin, missions abroad and a temporary base in Limerick”.
“Prior to the embargo on promotion, the department addressed the problem by making promotion dependent on fulfilling a three-year assignment in Limerick but that option is no longer available,” it says. “As of now, only 105 posts are actually filled in Limerick, with 31 staff now located in Dublin. This situation will continue to deteriorate.”
Under the heading of “Irish abroad unit”, the brief says there are not likely to be “any significant developments” over the undocumented Irish in the US over the coming months.
Mr Gilmore is also told that a decision needs to be taken early in his tenure as to whether or not a second Global Irish Economic Forum should be held in September or October of this year.
Scores of Irish business people and the diaspora attended a meeting of the forum in 2009.
The briefing material says a proposal to introduce a certificate of Irish heritage is progressing and contract negotiations with Co Kerry-based firm Fexco are nearing completion. The certificate would be open to 70 million people of Irish descent who do not qualify for citizenship.
The brief also notes the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in May will offer an “excellent opportunity for Ireland to showcase itself as a tourist destination and as a country in economic recovery”.
