The number of Irish embassies could be increased substantially over the next few years, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern, indicated yesterday.
Facing calls from Fianna Fáil and Opposition TDs to increase Ireland's diplomatic force, the Minister said simply: "I fully agree." Existing embassies offered the Exchequer "excellent value for money" as Department of Foreign Affairs staff "sell Ireland from all points of view".
Fianna Fáil TD Mr Pat Carey said it is extraordinary that so many Irish diplomatic missions in Africa are headed by a chargé d'affaires, rather than by an ambassador.
Because of the growth in the overseas development budget, many chargé d'affaires control budgets larger than many of the country's European Union embassies.
"I can't for the life of me figure out why we can't upgrade and do something more permanent about premises," he told the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs.
Meanwhile, the acting chairman of the committee, Fianna Fáil TD Mr Seán Haughey, has voiced strong opposition to the prospect of Turkey joining the EU.
"I have my doubts that a predominantly Muslim country can become part of a democratic European Union," he said during an exchange with Labour's Senator Derek McDowell.
Earlier, Mr Haughey made clear that he wanted the committee to fully debate "the pros and cons" surrounding Turkish membership.
He said there have been "concerns" about many aspects of Turkey's proposed membership, including the country's human rights record, the cost of its membership and immigration fears.
Mr Ahern said the European Commission's report on Turkey would be closely examined when EU foreign ministers meet next week.
"The Commission report and recommendation, and its initial study on the consequences of Turkish accession, are very comprehensive."
Later, he said: "We have strongly encouraged the government of Turkey to maintain the impressive performance of recent years in legislating for reform, and to ensure the full implementation of these reforms."
The acceptance of new member-states always poses problems for the EU, he said, adding that some people would have questioned Ireland's entry in the early 1970s on the same grounds.
Highly critical of the EU's response to the Darfur crisis in Sudan, Fine Gael's Senator Paul Bradford said the performance had been "scandalously inadequate".
"It has not met with any of the political attention that it deserves. Is it because it is Africa? Is that why we are keeping our eyes closed?" he said.
Earlier, the Minister said the Darfur crisis continues to cause "serious concern. Progress has failed to meet expectations. There continues to be a lack of security."
