Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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410. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new Irish Consulate General office in Luxor City, Egypt.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14541/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government has no plans to open a Consulate general in Luxor City.  The Embassy team in Cairo manages Ireland’s relations with Egypt, and there is an Honorary Consul in Alexandria.

Since the launch of the Global Ireland programme in June 2018, 14 new Missions have been opened.  Four were opened in 2021: Kyiv, Manchester, Manila and Rabat.  Global Ireland aims to double Ireland's influence in the world by 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened Diplomatic presence.  A Government decision in 2021 approved the opening of a further four new Missions in Dakar, Lyon, Miami and Toronto.  Ireland will also reopen our Embassy in Tehran; this will bring to 19 the number of new Missions opened as a key deliverable of the Global Ireland programme. 

The strengthening of existing, and strategically important Missions (including Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, New York UN, Tokyo and Beijing), has complemented Mission expansion, including the assignment of additional staff from several Government Departments.

All Missions are located in regions where there are opportunities for Ireland to advance our national, political and economic priorities.  Missions work as part of an integrated 'Team Ireland' model, in cooperation with State Agencies and other Government Departments, to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and drive the development of trade, tourism, investment, science, technology and innovation, culture and education.