Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
749. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the dates on which the Irish Consulate General and or the Vice Consul in San Francisco have visited Honolulu in Hawaii in 2021 and to date in 2022; and the purpose of each visit. [43180/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra750. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the dates on which the Irish Consulate General and or Vice Consul in San Francisco have visited Las Vegas in 2021 and to date in 2022; and the purpose of each visit. [43181/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 749 and 750 together.
When opened in autumn 2019, Ireland's Consulate General in Los Angeles was assigned responsibility for the US states of Hawaii and Nevada, amongst other duties.
The Consulate General works closely with the Irish diaspora in the Pacific Southwest region of the United States, including in fulfilment of Ireland's Diaspora Strategy 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, promoting trade and economic opportunities, and ongoing engagement with our increasingly multicultural diaspora.
Opportunities for the Consul General to undertake travel through the totality of its consular area over the past two years have been restricted due to the pandemic. No official visit to Honolulu in Hawaii by the Consul General or the Vice Consul was undertaken in 2021 or to date in 2022.
No official visit to Las Vegas, Nevada by the Consul General or Vice Consul was undertaken in 2021; the Consul General did travel to Las Vegas on 20-21 June 2022 to meet with Ireland’s former Honorary Consul to discuss outstanding consular issues, and to plan future engagement with the Irish community there.
The Consulate General in Los Angeles is one of the new missions established under Global Ireland 2025, and will contribute to delivery of commitments in Ireland’s Strategy for the US and Canada 2019-2025.
