Department of Foreign Affairs funding requests ahead of Budget 2021

A €1.8 million Brexit translation bill, €6 million for running Ireland’s seat on the UN Security Council, and €3 million for a referendum on Presidential voting rights were on the budget wish list for the Department of Foreign Affairs this year.

Minister Simon Coveney’s department said they would be hit with a range of new costs in 2021 while facing falling income from passport and visa services.

They also warned Ireland were likely to be affected by “adverse foreign exchange movements” as well as a €20 million bill this year for development of a new Ireland House in Tokyo.