asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present diplomatic arrangements, if any, with Iran; and the contacts, if any, which have been made with the new Government.

24.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the diplomatic arrangements, if any, that exist with each of the oil-producing countries in the Middle East.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.

Ireland has entered into diplomatic relations with Iran and a number of other oil-producing countries in the Middle East. We have established resident Embassies in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt and we also have diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis with Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

So far as contact with the new Government in Iran is concerned, our Embassy in Tehran is carrying on normal contacts with the new administration. This is in accord with our usual practice of giving recognition on a continuing basis to a foreign State rather than to the Government of the day.

Are there proposals for the establishment of permanent Embassies in Iraq, Bahrain and Kuwait?

That seems to be a separate question.

I have given the Deputy details of our diplomatic relations so far with all of the Gulf States, but it would be premature to discuss at this stage what arrangements might be made regarding the establishment of permanent Embassies there.