Irish ambassadors more used to playing host to dignitaries and diplomats are to be asked to extend the "céad míle fáilte" and open their doors to Irish citizens living in or visiting their countries.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern confirmed last night that he is to ask ambassadors to "consider favourably" requests from people to visit embassy buildings of notable architectural merit in cities such as Paris, London and Rome.
Up until now there has been no formal structure in place for Irish people to visit or tour embassy buildings, but Mr Ahern is determined that the benefits of millions of euro of investment in State-owned properties abroad be showcased.
Recently, Mr Ahern opened the newly refurbished Irish embassy buildings in Paris, located at the junction of the fashionable Avenue Foch and Rue Rude.
Built in the 1890s, the house and its contents were purchased by the State in 1954 for £150,000 - in today's terms about €4.5 million.
The restoration, which cost €2.5 million, was done under the supervision of the Irish Ambassador to France, Anne Anderson, and Patrick Mellett, an award-winning Paris-based Irish architect. More than 30,000 Irish people live in France, some 15,000 in Paris, and they will now have the opportunity to see the spectacular embassy buildings.
At the opening of the embassy Mr Ahern said embassies abroad make a statement about Ireland as a sovereign nation. "They should reflect all that is best about Irish life and our economic profile, operating as a home from home for our citizens living abroad and as an arm of the State promoting Irish culture and trade."
This year €14 million was made available by the Government under the land and buildings programme to provide for the purchase of new embassy buildings and residences in Slovenia, The Hague and Ankara. As well as Paris, there was also significant refurbishment work carried out on missions in Buenos Aires, the Vatican, Lisbon, Madrid, Prague and Washington.
In the Estimates published last week, €20 million was provided for the acquisition of new embassies in 2007. It is understood the department is negotiating to buildings for three missions abroad.
Ireland has about 75 embassies and chanceries around the world, the vast bulk of them rented. The latest are in Romania and Bulgaria, which are joining the EU in January.
The Minister believes that a steady programme of embassy purchases will ultimately save the taxpayer money.