Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 February 2022
68. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to expand the embassy network in Africa in the context of the Global Ireland Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5268/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Global Ireland initiative was launched in 2018 with the aim of doubling Ireland's impact, including the expansion of Ireland's global footprint. An early step in taking forward the ambition of the Global Ireland Initiative, was the upgrading in 2018 of the Irish Aid office in Monrovia, Liberia, to Embassy status.
Building on Ireland’s longstanding engagement with Africa, and as part of the Global Ireland initiative, a new Government of Ireland Africa Strategy was launched in November 2019. The Strategy covers all countries on the African continent in a single strategic approach engaging political, economic, cultural, and development relations.
The Africa Strategy also sets out the framework for Ireland’s expanded presence in Africa, including a number of new Embassies in North and West Africa by 2025, in parallel with a deepening of existing strong relationships across the continent. As part of the Strategy a new Embassy was opened in Rabat, Morocco, during 2021, bringing the current total number of Ireland’s Embassies across the African continent up to thirteen, and providing an opportunity for Ireland to build our visibility in Morocco and the wider region including through the Embassy’s secondary accreditations.
Also in 2021, the Government announced its intention to open a new Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, if possible by the end of 2022. Ireland’s new Embassy in Dakar will enhance Ireland’s bilateral relations with Senegal and significantly contribute towards the advancing of Ireland’s strategic interests in francophone West Africa and the Sahel. In particular, the new Embassy will support accessing the significant potential that the region holds for Irish trade in goods and services and will act as a platform for a deepening of the Irish Aid programme in the Central Sahel, including through secondary accreditations.
The question of the further enhancement of Ireland's footprint in Africa, will be determined in the context of delivering on the next elements of the Global Ireland Initiative and the needs of a growing international development programme.
