Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Advancing Ireland’s trade, tourism, education and investment objectives through economic diplomacy and related activities is at the forefront of Ireland’s foreign policy and is reflected in our approach to engaging with global challenges as set out in The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World. The Embassy network currently comprises 82 Embassies, Consulates and multilateral offices. It plays a crucial role in supporting Irish businesses to grow overseas; in promoting our wider trade interests including through EU and WTO regulation; in addressing market access issues; and in supporting Ministerial visits and trade missions, as part of Team Ireland. The Embassy network is an important resource for our state agencies through its active support of their daily work and strategic objectives in overseas markets. The Embassy network is an invaluable asset for trade promotion in locations with limited or no state agency presence. In an evolving and increasingly challenging global economic and trading environment, our Embassy network is working to further Ireland’s economic objectives overseas and promote Ireland’s attractiveness as a destination to live, study, work, visit, and do business. The strategy framework for this is our trade and investment promotion policy Ireland Connected. Approval has been given for the recruitment in a select number of Embassies and Consulates of additional local staff with the requisite skills and experience to expand and enhance economic and promotional activities, to deepen market penetration and diversification, to enhance our economic and public diplomacy, and to raise our global visibility.

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