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View of Tehran from the Azadi Tower - Iran Shutterstock/Leonid Andronov

Why Ireland's farmers want the Irish embassy in Iran to reopen

The ICSA has called on the government to reopen the Irish embassy in Iran.

FARMERS HAVE CALLED on the government to reopen the Irish embassy in Iran, which was closed in 2011.

Patrick Kent, the President of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA), said there would be “huge opportunities for exports of beef and sheep meat to Iran” if full diplomatic relations were to resume between the two countries.

Last week the ICSA met with Iranian ambassador to Ireland, Javad Kachoueian, to discuss potential cattle and sheep meat trade between the two countries.

Kent said,“I would urge the Irish Government to look at diplomatic missions to Iran and I would also call on the banking sector to provide facilitates for financial transactions between Irish and Iranian interests.”

The Irish embassy in Tehran, Iran was closed in 2011 as part of cost reduction measures brought on by the financial crisis. A number of  new consulates have been opened since then including embassies in Nairobi, Jakarta and Bangkok while the Irish embassy in the Vatican has also been reopened.

Irish Embassy

In response to the call from the farmers, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there was no immediate plans to reopen the embassy, but there is an ‘ongoing review’ of Ireland’s embassies and consulates.

The configuration and scale of the State’s diplomatic and consular network is kept under ongoing review by the government.  A range of factors are taken into account in considering our diplomatic representation overseas, including our national political, economic and trade priorities, as well as the availability of resources.

The government is of course conscious of the political, economic, trade factors and availability of resources that might warrant the opening of a resident diplomatic mission in Iran – as in a number of other countries.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie ICSA General Secretary Eddie Punch said in 2017 there will be 200,000 extra cattle for slaughter compared to 2015 and they will be a need to expand into other markets, as there no real added demand for Irish beef in Europe.

“Iran is in a deficit in terms of red meat, they consume one million tonnes of red meat a year. We can’t afford not to do this.” said Punch.

Punch also cited the recent lifting of sanctions on Iran by the US government as reason to start doing business with Iran.

Banking 

The ICSA said that there are two main obstacles to trading beef and sheep meat with Iran: The lack of diplomatic outreach from the Irish government to the Iranian government and the lack of banking facilities between the two states.

“No Irish bank will facilitate transactions with Iranian banks” said Punch, which makes any dealing between the two countries very difficult if not impossible.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jan 1st 2017, 6:53 AM

    Makes sense. They could always open it next door to the British embassy on Bobby Sands Street.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jan 1st 2017, 1:01 PM

    Now that the Trump has taken the whole shebang down tinfoil hat street there’s nothing stopping ireland from reopening its embassy

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    Mute Mark
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    Jan 1st 2017, 1:43 PM

    C

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    Mute Edel Ball
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    Jan 1st 2017, 10:36 AM

    Should be NO live export! Horrendous and evil practice.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Jan 1st 2017, 12:47 PM

    OK edel so let’s have a halal kill here so & we’ll put in a fridge. I’m sure that will fit your narrative.

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    Mute Val Martin
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    Jan 1st 2017, 1:06 PM

    @Edel Ball: As a farmer, you have to show show why its cruel. If the boats are well maintained, it should be ok. We exported 1,500 Angus cattle live to Asia 3 years ago and it was well approved on RTE, they were breeding stock

    I can’t sell my beef to Russia because of Merlel’s sanctions. Hope she is soon gone

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    Mute HOTBank
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    Jan 1st 2017, 5:12 PM

    You are an eejit, Val. The sanctions are not Merkel’s. If they belong to any single political leader they are the Polish Prime Minister’s. And remember the sanctions were imposed because Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea. And remember too that Russia invaded Georgia. And they are supporting Assad in his slaughter of Syrians.

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    Jan 1st 2017, 9:12 AM

    How about an Irish embassy in Chile, where a lot of Irish people actually live?

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    Mute Bernard Lebanidze
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    Jan 1st 2017, 11:30 AM

    Close the one in Nigeria and open in Iran.

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    Mute femo
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    Jan 1st 2017, 7:24 PM

    And close Israeli one.

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    Mute Stiofán Mac Stáin
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    Jan 2nd 2017, 12:33 AM

    @femo: Can’t have one story without reference to Israel. Sad really

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    Mute David Hanlon
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    Jan 1st 2017, 2:02 PM

    I’ve already had a post taken from here lets see how long this one lasts,I’m astonished about peoples sensitivity to animals being slaughtered,when the Iranians continue to execute children ,yes children and stone women to death,I’M speechless.

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    Mute David Hanlon
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    Jan 1st 2017, 3:09 PM

    Red thumbs must be the ayatollah and his bitch.

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