Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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382. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the need to appoint an ambassador to Ireland at an early date with the United States administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4127/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The appointment of Ambassadors by the United States is solely a matter for the U.S. authorities.

Pending the nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador to Ireland by President Biden and the subsequent confirmation of the appointment by the US Senate, we continue to engage closely with the U.S. Embassy in Dublin on the whole range of issues pertaining to the Ireland-US relationship.

We have a very strong and positive working relationship with the US Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires Alex McKnight and her team. I know that this will continue to be the case until, and indeed after, a new Ambassador is appointed. I am particularly grateful for their ongoing cooperation during the COVID 19 pandemic and for the work of the previous US Ambassador, Edward Crawford, during his time in Ireland.

We do of course look forward to the arrival of a new US Ambassador in due course. Ireland has always maintained close relations with the US and will continue to do so, including through our Embassy in Washington D.C., our other diplomatic Missions across the United States and through the US Embassy in Dublin.