Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the number of current and planned global Irish diplomatic missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2081/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Global Ireland Strategy was launched by Government in 2018 with the aim of doubling Ireland’s footprint and impact by 2025. Under the strategy, Ireland’s diplomatic footprint has expanded significantly with the opening of twenty-two new missions under the Strategy. A further five new diplomatic missions were announced in March 2024 with new Embassies in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova, and new Consulates General in Málaga and Melbourne.

When these new diplomatic missions are established it will bring the total number of new diplomatic missions opened under the Global Ireland Strategy to twenty-seven and the total number of Ireland’s diplomatic missions to 107.

This wider and deeper international presence is helping Ireland promote our economic interest and our values in a changing and uncertain international landscape. It has also assisted Ireland in promoting our culture and in building stronger bridges with our diaspora.

Increasingly, where feasible, the focus and nature of our missions is the Ireland House model, where diplomatic and State Agency colleagues work together as a single team, under one roof, winning investments, exports and jobs for Ireland. At present, there are 19 Ireland Houses including the recently opened flagship Ireland House in New York. New Ireland Houses are currently under development including in Chicago, Tokyo and London, and others are planned in Toronto and Milan. This will bring the total number of Ireland Houses to 23 by the end of 2026.