Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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404. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details on the role and activity of Ireland as an observer of L’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19141/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland was granted Observer Status at the International Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF) in 2018. The IOF was created in 1970 and has 88 Member States (54 Members, 7 Associate Members and 27 )bservers). The Organisation’s Charter (to which all Members and Observers must sign up) underlines the IOF’s commitment to, inter alia, the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, democracy and minority rights.

Ireland attaches great importance to its Observer Status of the Francophonie and to strengthening its relations with the Francophonie community. Since being granted Observer Status, Ireland has appointed a diplomat, in the Irish Embassy in Paris, to deepen our engagement with the IOF and to develop our relations with States in Francophone West Africa. Ireland's Ambassador to France, is also Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the Francophonie.

Missions across our network have also been active in participating in local Francophonie groupings. At the UN in New York, Ireland has been appointed to the Bureau of Francophone Ambassadors and Ireland is an active participant in the local group of Francophone Ambassadors.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is also involved in the organisation of the annual Francophonie Festival in Ireland, which was launched in Iveagh House in February of this year.