Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's embassies and consulates undertake a wide range of diplomatic activities as part of their work to maintain Ireland's positive international profile and to support issues and initiatives which are of particular interest to us.

In that context, Ireland's diplomatic network has been to the fore in efforts in recent years to raise awareness of St. Brigid's Day and to establish the day as an international celebration of Irish women's achievements.

In February 2018, to mark St. Brigid's Day, the Embassy of Ireland in London hosted a celebration of the creativity and achievements of Irish women, which was a resounding success. In the years since, St. Brigid's Day has been celebrated across Ireland's diplomatic network, developing into what is now an annual global programme.

This year is a very special year, being the 1,500th anniversary of the death of St. Brigid, and that will I am sure be reflected in the celebratory events being organised by our missions. While my Department provides funding, missions themselves, often working with State agencies and other local partners, devise the events, missions being best placed to judge what is most suitable in their host countries.

So far this year, my Department has confirmed funding for over forty events, hosted by thirty-five of our missions, with others expected to be added to that list in the run up to St. Brigid's Day. Included in those events are panel discussions, cultural performances, mentoring sessions and exhibitions, to name just a few.

The list of participating missions confirmed to date is:

Abuja, Beijing, Brussels, Canberra, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Holy See, Jakarta, Miami, Rabat, Tokyo, Vienna, Wellington, Boston, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, The Hague, Brasilia, Riga, Prague, Warsaw, Nairobi, Valetta, Mumbai, Madrid, Luxembourg, London, Addis Ababa, Chicago, Hong Kong, Nicosia, Sydney, Atlanta, and Lisbon. More events are expected.