The January draft of the Stormont community relations paper included ideas for, amongst other things, anti-sectarian classes, a buddy scheme for nursery and primary school children and an annual cultural awareness day.

BBC: Bit by bit? Latest approach to tackling sectarianism

The job, attached to the foreign ministry, requires Mr von Thadden to take a broad view of relations with France and to offer new ideas for improving them, inside and outside government.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne