Sir, – I compliment you on a timely editorial commentary. But I would dispute the word “waning”; in my humble opinion, Ireland has never “waxed” in supporting those who have served – or wished to serve – as international civil servants (“The Irish Times view on Irish representation in EU jobs: risk of a waning influence”, August 30th).
Going as far back as our early involvement in the League of Nations, Sean Lester, the most pre-eminent of Irish diplomats, was largely left to his own devices in Geneva and, as the departmental archives show, ultimately refused re-entry into what was then the “External Affairs” HQ at Iveagh House.
This lack of concern by his Dublin masters set a precedent which endures to this day.
My own experience, and that of so many others, was that the Dublin-centric establishment never showed any great interest or support to those of us who made attempts to further our career by serving in international organisations.
By comparison, and as an example, France continues to promote their civil servants in situ even while they are serving in international organisations.
The UK, US, Australia and Canada are also not at all shy about seeking positions of influence in the UN and other international organisations.
By way of contrast, generous Irish dual citizenship regulations facilitate other candidates in clogging up national quotas where these operate (such as in the World Bank).
With one or two notable exceptions, the record shows successive Irish governments since the foundation of this State have neglected rather than encouraged or promoted their own in the field of international organisations.
But, perhaps, now that we are net contributors to the Brussels bureaucracy budget (a historic precedent in our EU relationship that even our media choose to ignore, by the way) our national approach will be less timid. – Yours, etc,
DÓNAL DENHAM,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.