Catherine Murphy
Question:363. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a report on the activities of the Irish Consulate General in Los Angeles. [6620/21]
View answerWednesday, 10 February 2021
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The Consulate General of Ireland, Los Angeles, was officially opened by the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D., on 26 September 2019 with the participation of the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. The Consulate is one of the new Missions established under Global Ireland 2025 and in line with commitments in Ireland’s Strategy for the US and Canada 2019-2025. The Consulate represents Ireland in Southern California, and in the neighbouring states of Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii.
The decision to open a Consulate in Los Angeles reflects the strong economic and diaspora connections between Ireland and the Pacific Southwest, including the potential to further develop Ireland’s links with Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. The Consulate is working to build on links between Ireland and this region in a range of areas, working with both the Irish community and local business, political and cultural partners.
The Consulate also works closely with the State Agencies with interests in this region, in particular Screen Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the Industrial Development Authority and Tourism Ireland. Los Angeles is a world-leading entertainment capital and the Consulate has a particular focus on supporting the work of the State Agencies within the creative industries. Screen Ireland is currently in the process of recruiting a Los Angeles-based representative, to be co-located with the Consulate.
The Consulate works closely with the Irish diaspora in the Pacific Southwest, in line with the Government’s Diaspora Strategy for the period 2020-2025. This includes providing support to Irish communities and organisations through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme, delivering consular assistance to Irish citizens in the Pacific Southwest, and promoting an open and inclusive approach to ongoing engagement with our increasingly multicultural diaspora.
The Consulate also has a particular focus on promoting Irish culture in the Western United States and is preparing to recruit a dedicated Cultural Officer later this year. Los Angeles is one of six priority locations for the appointment of Cultural Officers as specified in Global Ireland 2025, in recognition of the opportunities that exist for Irish artists and creators in this region.