Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new Irish consulate general office in Phuket, Thailand, during 2025. [43366/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s diplomatic presence has expanded significantly in recent years, under the Global Ireland Strategy, which aimed to double Ireland’s global footprint and influence in the period 2018 to 2025.

Twenty six new missions were planned for under the Strategy, and we have now opened or announced the opening of twenty seven, comprising fourteen embassies and thirteen consulates general. This wider and deeper international presence is helping Ireland to defend our economic interests and promote our values in a changing and uncertain international landscape. It has also assisted Ireland in building stronger bridges to our diaspora and promoting our culture.

Thailand is an important partner for Ireland in the Asia Pacific region, and the two countries have very positive trade and people-to-people links. As part of the Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy, Ireland aims to develop its relationships with countries in South East Asia, including Thailand. Ireland is represented in Thailand by our Embassy in Bangkok, which opened in 2014. The Embassy is supported in its work by an Honorary Consul based in Chiang Mai. At present, there are no plans to further expand Ireland's diplomatic representation in Thailand.