The Statement of Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs sets out the foreign policy objectives, as defined by the Governement, to be pursued in the period 2008-2010.

Cliceáil anseo chun an Ráiteas Straitéise a fháil as Gaeilge.

Annual Output Statement 2010

Click here to access the Department of Foreign Affairs Annual output Statement 2010 (PDF 447kb)

Annual Output Statement 2009

Click here to access the Department of Foreign Affairs Annual output Statement 2009 (PDF 17kb)

Annual Report 2008

The 2008 Annual Report of the Department of Foreign Affairs describes the progress made by the Department towards achieving the policy goals and objectives set down in the Department’s Strategy Statement 2008 – 2010.

A decade of the Asia Strategy 1999-2009

The first phase of the Strategy ran from 1999 to 2004. It saw the opening of new missions in Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney, as well as an increase in staff in our Beijing and Tokyo embassies. Over the period, there was a marked increase in high-level political and trade-related visits to and from the region. An awareness campaign was funded to improve our understanding of Asian business culture in Ireland and to raise Ireland’s profile in Asia.

Over a period of several months an interdepartmental committee chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach has reviewed the outcome of the first phase of the Strategy and considered ideas for its next phase to the end of 2009. Their assessment and recommendations were contained in a document 'A decade of the Asia Strategy 1999-2009' (PDF 251kb) , published in 2005.

The second phase of the Strategy retains those elements which have proved successful, including annual programmes of high level visits, internships for government officials and media visits. The second phase also covers areas such as tourism, agriculture and food, education and science, investment and twinning.

A High Level Group to oversee the implementation of the next phase of the Asia Strategy has been appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The implementation of the second phase is kept under continuing review by this high level steering group which was established in 2005. The Group is chaired by the Secretary General of that Department in cooperation with the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Report of the Asia Strategy Group

Following his visit to China in 1998, the Taoiseach established a group of experts, drawn from the private and public sectors, to recommend a strategy for improving our economic relations with East Asia.

The premise of their report was straightforward: Ireland knew too little about the region and the countries of the region knew too little about Ireland for the successful development of our economic relations. They made a range of recommendations designed to improve contact at official level, to strengthen our representation in the region, and to raise mutual awareness and understanding.

These recommendations were contained in a report entitled, A Strategy for Long-Term Development of Foreign Earnings in Asia (PDF 2954kb).

Report on Developments in the European Union in 2004

2004 proved to be a year of great historical and institutional development for the European Union with the accession of ten new Member States and the agreement on the European Constitution. A Report on Development in the European Union in 2004 is available here. (PDF 348kb)

White Paper on Irish Aid

Text of the White Paper

Report on Irish Prisoners Overseas

Text of the Report on Irish Prisoners Overseas, prepared by Chris Flood for the Minister for Foreign Affairs (PDF 4126kb)

Report on the Review of the Special Passport Facility for Oireachtas Members

This is available in English and in Irish.

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