Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Information

The Government represents Ireland in its relations with other countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the Department of State that has overall responsibility for conducting these relations. The Department is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and is staffed by civil servants who advise the Minister on aspects of policy and international relations. The Minister and Department also conduct negotiations with the governments of other countries and can enter into agreements on behalf of Ireland with them.

If the Government agrees that Ireland will become a party to an international treaty, that treaty must be put before the Dáil, debated by the members and then approved by the Dáil. International treaties do not automatically become part of Irish law; they must be introduced as legislation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is divided into a number of areas. Some of these areas include:

• Political Division: this part of the Department is responsible for Ireland's participation in international politics. Among it's functions is managing Ireland's participation in the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.
• Development Co-operation Division: this division is responsible for Ireland's overseas aid programme and the conduct of Irish develoment policy.
• EU Division: this division co-ordinates Ireland's approach within the EU.
• Bileratal Economic Relations Division: this division deals with economic relations between Ireland and other countries throughout the world
• Protocol and Cultural: responsible for organising and managing visits of VIP's and heads of State to Ireland and of visits abroad by the President of Ireland
• Consular Division: responsible for administration of the range of services that relate to consular protection of Irish citizens visiting or resident in other countries.

As Department of State with overall responsibility for conducting Ireland's relations with other countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also has a number of other important functions. For example, it issues passports and appoints diplomats and consuls to represent Ireland all over the world.

Further information on the range of services that relate to the consular protection of Irish citizens visiting or resident in other countries is available from the address below.