Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
797. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department abolished the agricultural attache post in London, contrary to his Department’s management board July 2025 decision, and replace it with a more junior grade administrative officer; and the way in which this is this consistent with the UK’s importance as Ireland’s largest agricultural food export market and ongoing post-Brexit regulatory divergence. [71951/25]
View answerMy Department has a network of Counsellors and Attachés who are seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and based in Irish Embassies and Missions in eleven locations around the world. This network works at fostering and maintaining relationships with key decision makers, stakeholders and colleagues in the country/region of their posting. The Counsellors and Attachés also work closely with the Bord Bia overseas team to support trade development efforts in local markets.
The roles of the Attachés are continuously reviewed in line with the strategic priorities for my Department. The UK remains our largest agricultural food export market, and we also have significant imports from the UK. There are long established and mutually beneficial trading relationships between food producers in Ireland and food businesses and retailers in the UK.
With regards to the London Embassy, my Department's representation is led at Counsellor (Principal Officer) level, with additional posts assigned depending on business needs. My Department continues to have ongoing positive engagement at all levels with UK counterparts.
