Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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652. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to upgrade the Irish Honorary Consul in Cancun, Mexico to a consulate general office. [30744/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025 sets out the Government’s ambitions for expanding and deepening our international presence, influence and impact. It includes the expansion of Ireland’s Mission network which will deepen our impact across priority regions, provide opportunities to grow our trade and inward investment, strengthen political relationships with our partners, promote our values, and support Irish citizens and our diaspora abroad.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to a whole-of-Government strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean. This Strategy will act as a framework for Ireland’s developing bilateral relations with the region and I look forward to it being finalised and published in the period ahead. The forthcoming strategy will help to further strengthen the longstanding and important bilateral relationship between Ireland and Mexico.

Under Global Ireland 2025, we have expanded our footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean, with new Embassies in Bogotá and Santiago de Chile. The Embassy of Ireland in Mexico works closely with the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Cancún in the provision of consular services to Irish citizens. While the possibility of opening new Missions is considered on an ongoing basis, there are currently no plans to establish a Consulate General in Cancún.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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653. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new Irish consulate general office in Osaka, Japan. [30745/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025 sets out the Government’s ambitions for expanding and deepening our international presence, influence and impact. It includes the expansion of Ireland’s Mission network which will deepen our impact across priority regions, provide opportunities to grow our trade and inward investment, strengthen political relationships with our partners, promote our values, and support Irish citizens and our diaspora abroad.

"Global Ireland: Delivering in the Asia Pacific Region to 2025", launched in January 2020, places this strategy in a regional context and contains measures to significantly enhance Ireland's impact in Japan, including through the development of a new Ireland House in Tokyo.

Ireland enjoys excellent relations with Japan, fostered by our diplomats and State Agencies working together in Tokyo. While the possibility of new Missions is considered on an ongoing basis, Japan is not one of the countries currently earmarked for further expansion of our Mission network.