Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new consulate general office in Naples, Italy. [2161/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government is continuing with the planned expansion of Ireland’s diplomatic network, in line with the Global Ireland Strategy: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. Ireland's Consulate General in Milan opened on 9 September 2024, and will build on the important work of the Embassy of Ireland in Rome. Milan, which already hosts State agencies Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia, is Italy’s second city and is an important industrial, commercial and banking centre.

There are currently no plans to open a new Consulate General in Naples, Italy. Work is however progressing on expanding the network of Irish Honorary Consulates in Italy, with appointment processes for Honorary Consuls in Venice and Palermo currently underway, and other locations are under consideration.

Ireland’s Embassy in Rome, as our representative office in Italy, leads on Ireland’s political, trade, economic and people-to-people relations across Italy. Under the guidance of Ambassador Patricia O’Brien, the Embassy works to enhance the political and economic relationship between Ireland and Italy and to pursue opportunities to deliver economic growth and jobs; maintain and enhance links with the Irish diaspora; and promote Ireland and the Irish Arts. Ambassador O’Brien visited Naples most recently in July 2024, for a series of institutional engagements aimed at deepening cooperation in the political, educational and cultural spheres.