Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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389. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of new Irish embassy legations and consulates currently in operation globally; the extent of anticipated further developments in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4184/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At present, the Department of Foreign Affairs mission network consists of over 90 offices, including Embassies, Consulates and Representative Offices.

'Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025', sets out the Government’s ambitions for expanding and deepening our international presence. To date new Embassies have opened in Wellington, Bogotá, Amman, Monrovia and Santiago de Chile, and new Consulates General in Vancouver, Mumbai, Cardiff, Frankfurt and Los Angeles. Our new Missions are working to enhance Ireland’s international visibility; promote our prosperity, build new community and political contacts and protect and advance Ireland’s interests and values

Plans are underway to open a further four Missions in 2021, including Embassies in Kyiv, Manilla, Rabat and a Consulate in Manchester. In considering any further expansion of the Diplomatic network a range of factors will be taken into account including our national, political, economic and trade priorities, as well as the availability of resources.

The Government is conscious of the factors that might warrant the opening of new Missions in a number of countries and will keep the matter under active review.