Written answers
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Diplomatic Representation
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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137. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new Consulate General Office in Cape Town, South Africa. [6156/24]
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland and South Africa have had a warm and enduring friendship over thirty years of diplomatic relations. We have had important shared moments in our histories. South Africa is a major partner for Ireland and Europe in Africa, with a key leadership role in regional peace, security and economic initiatives.
South Africa is a key market for Ireland on the continent and our Embassy in Pretoria engages extensively in trade promotion, in addition to providing consular services to Irish citizens. Embassy staff regularly conduct political, community and cultural outreach in the Cape Town area. This includes regular visits and meetings by Embassy staff, reflecting the importance in economic terms of both the city and its wider region.
The Government is continuing with the planned expansion of Ireland’s mission network, in line with the Global Ireland Strategy. While a range of possible locations remains under review, there are currently no plans to open a new Consulate General Cape Town.
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the dates in 2023 and to-date in 2024 on which he or his officials spoke with the Irish Consul General in Sydney, in tabular form. [6157/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Consulate General in Sydney works closely with the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra to promote and protect Ireland's interests in Australia, to strengthen political and economic relationships, to support the work of the State Agencies, to provide citizen services to the Irish community, and to promote cultural ties and people-to-people connections between Ireland and Australia.
In October 2023, I was pleased to host an in-person gathering of our Heads of Mission. During this conference, I engaged with Ireland's Ambassadors and Consuls General from around the world. Ireland's Consul General in Sydney participated in the Conference.
I am kept fully informed of the Consulate General’s activities by officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs, who are in almost daily communication with our Missions in Australia on a wide range of issues related to Ireland's engagement in and with Australia, including the work of the Consulate General in Sydney. These contacts are so frequent, it would not be logistically feasible to provide a comprehensive list of dates for these.
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