Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
52. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a list of his plans for new embassies or consulates over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36437/23]
View answerIn 2018, the Government adopted the Global Ireland Strategy which aims to double Ireland’s global footprint and influence in the period 2018 to 2025. A review of the strategy was published on 16 July 2023. It notes, among the strategy’s many achievements, that Ireland’s diplomatic presence has expanded significantly since its launch.
Ireland has opened or announced twenty-two of the twenty-six missions planned for under the strategy; that is, eleven bilateral embassies and eleven consulates general; decisions on the further four planned missions will be made before end 2025.
Where feasible, the focus and nature of our missions is the Ireland House model, where diplomatic and State agency colleagues work together as a single team, under one roof, winning investments, exports and jobs for Ireland. At present, there are 20 of these, and flagship Ireland Houses are being developed in Tokyo, London and New York.
Our expanded international presence is helping Ireland to expand our economic interest and promote our values in a changing and uncertain international landscape. It has also assisted Ireland in building stronger bridges to our diaspora and promoting Ireland as a reliable principled international partner, and a good country to visit, trade with, invest in, and study.
