Written answers
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Diplomatic Representation
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to expand the embassy network in Africa in the context of the Global Ireland Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5268/22]
Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Global Ireland initiative was launched in 2018 with the aim of doubling Ireland's impact, including the expansion of Ireland's global footprint. An early step in taking forward the ambition of the Global Ireland Initiative, was the upgrading in 2018 of the Irish Aid office in Monrovia, Liberia, to Embassy status.
Building on Ireland’s longstanding engagement with Africa, and as part of the Global Ireland initiative, a new Government of Ireland Africa Strategy was launched in November 2019. The Strategy covers all countries on the African continent in a single strategic approach engaging political, economic, cultural, and development relations.
The Africa Strategy also sets out the framework for Ireland’s expanded presence in Africa, including a number of new Embassies in North and West Africa by 2025, in parallel with a deepening of existing strong relationships across the continent. As part of the Strategy a new Embassy was opened in Rabat, Morocco, during 2021, bringing the current total number of Ireland’s Embassies across the African continent up to thirteen, and providing an opportunity for Ireland to build our visibility in Morocco and the wider region including through the Embassy’s secondary accreditations.
Also in 2021, the Government announced its intention to open a new Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, if possible by the end of 2022. Ireland’s new Embassy in Dakar will enhance Ireland’s bilateral relations with Senegal and significantly contribute towards the advancing of Ireland’s strategic interests in francophone West Africa and the Sahel. In particular, the new Embassy will support accessing the significant potential that the region holds for Irish trade in goods and services and will act as a platform for a deepening of the Irish Aid programme in the Central Sahel, including through secondary accreditations.
The question of the further enhancement of Ireland's footprint in Africa, will be determined in the context of delivering on the next elements of the Global Ireland Initiative and the needs of a growing international development programme.
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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69. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he expects the new Ireland House Irish Embassy to open in Tokyo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5269/22]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As part of the Government's Global Ireland 2025 initiative, Ireland is investing in a new, state-of-the-art Ireland House in Tokyo. Construction is expected to take two years and is scheduled to commence within the next twelve months.
Japan is an important and like minded partner for Ireland. As the third largest economy in the world, Japan is a vital market for Irish goods and services and an important source of foreign direct investment. The new Ireland House will be a symbol of Ireland’s commitment to its relationship with Japan and our ambition to develop this further.
The vision for this new ‘Ireland House’ building is to provide an exceptional platform for Ireland to deepen our engagement in Japan in future years. In addition, the new building will help raise Ireland’s profile in Japan and showcase our cultural heritage, creativity and innovation through excellence in design. The building will meet the highest sustainability standards.
Located in Yotsuya district in central Tokyo, Ireland House will be home to offices for the Embassy and the State Agencies and the official accommodation of the Ambassador. The building will also house a multi-use event and exhibition space for culture, promotion and business and will be a meeting place for the Irish community in Japan.
An international Design Competition was held to identify a design for the architects for the building, with Dublin based architects firm Henry J Lyons announced as the winning team in September 2020.
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