Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the dates in 2024 the Irish Consul based in Austin, USA, has met with the Mayor of Dallas, Texas, in tabular form. [3764/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Strengthening our relationship with the United States is a key priority for me and for this Government. Strategic political engagement is an important part of that effort at both Federal and State level.

Ireland’s Consul General in Austin did not meet with the Mayor of Dallas in 2024. However, the Consulate of Ireland in Austin General engages regularly with elected officials and broad range of stakeholders, across its consular region including in Dallas. The Consulate also supports high level visits from Ireland to the state of Texas, taking opportunities that these visits offer for further political engagement.

In August 2024, Minister of State Thomas Byrne T.D. undertook a programme in Dallas as part of a wider four day programme in Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. The Minister met with members of the Irish business community and also participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the World Affairs Council of Dallas with leaders drawn from the Dallas sports business community and local government. Dallas Council Member Zarin Gracey, and a senior City of Dallas official participated in this roundtable.