Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
50. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of honorary consuls of other countries in Ireland, broken down by country, the basis on which they are accredited, what diplomatic privileges they enjoy, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3416/25]
View answerA table containing the information requested by the Deputy is set out below.
The functions, privileges and immunities of Honorary Consuls and their legal status in Ireland derives from the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, as given effect in Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act, 1967.
Consular functions as performed by Honorary Consuls on behalf of foreign nominating states are governed by Article 5 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Chapter III of the Convention governs the facilities, privileges and immunities of Honorary Consuls.
In Ireland, Honorary Consuls as appointed by foreign states are typically Irish nationals or nationals from the foreign state concerned who are permanently resident here. They carry out important work in support of nationals of the foreign state concerned who may require consular or other forms of practical assistance in a range of scenarios, and frequently operate in liaison with Irish State authorities as necessary.
In this context, and in accordance with the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act, 1967, Honorary Consuls are only eligible for immunities from civil jurisdiction in respect of official acts performed in the exercise of their official functions. In particular, Honorary Consuls do not enjoy personal inviolability and are subject to criminal jurisdiction. Privileges for which they are eligible are limited to tax exemptions on their official emoluments as paid to them by the foreign state concerned and exemption from public duties such as jury service.
There are currently 72 Honorary Consuls in Ireland representing 51 foreign states. A full list of these Honorary Consuls is also available on the Diplomatic List as maintained by my Department via the www.ireland.ie website.
|
Country |
Number of Posts |
|
ARMENIA |
1 |
|
AZERBAIJAN |
1 |
|
BELARUS |
1 |
|
BELGIUM |
3 |
|
BELIZE |
1 |
|
BOTSWANA |
1 |
|
BRAZIL |
3 |
|
CAMEROON |
1 |
|
CHILE |
1 |
|
CÔTE D’IVOIRE |
1 |
|
CROATIA |
1 |
|
DENMARK |
1 |
|
ESTONIA |
3 |
|
FINLAND |
3 |
|
FRANCE |
3 |
|
GERMANY |
1 |
|
GHANA |
1 |
|
GUATEMALA |
1 |
|
ICELAND |
1 |
|
INDONESIA |
1 |
|
ITALY |
2 |
|
JAMAICA |
1 |
|
JORDAN |
1 |
|
KAZAKHSTAN |
1 |
|
LATVIA |
1 |
|
LITHUANIA |
2 |
|
LUXEMBOURG |
1 |
|
MALAWI |
1 |
|
MALTA |
2 |
|
MEXICO |
4 |
|
MOROCCO |
1 |
|
NETHERLANDS |
1 |
|
NORWAY |
1 |
|
OMAN |
1 |
|
PHILIPPINES |
1 |
|
POLAND |
2 |
|
PORTUGAL |
1 |
|
RUSSIAN FEDERATION |
1 |
|
SAN MARINO |
1 |
|
SIERRA LEONE |
1 |
|
SINGAPORE |
1 |
|
SLOVENIA |
1 |
|
SPAIN |
4 |
|
SRI LANKA |
1 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
2 |
|
THAILAND |
1 |
|
TIMOR-LESTE |
1 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM |
1 |
|
UGANDA |
1 |
|
URUGUAY |
1 |
|
VIETNAM |
1 |
