Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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78. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans in the lifetime of this Government to open new embassies and permanent missions; where these would be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4850/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Global Ireland 2025 strategy was launched by Government in 2018 with the aim of doubling Ireland’s footprint and impact by 2025. 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.

In the new Programme for Government, there is a commitment to develop a new strategy, Global Ireland 2040, for further enhancing our place and influence in international affairs, including ever-deeper relationships with our European partners. It is our intention that this new Strategy, which will be a cross-Government initiative, will be completed this year.

As part of this, we will continue to develop Ireland’s presence around the world, including an expansion of the successful Ireland House concept, where all of our Agencies are in one location, maximising impact in host countries and value for Irish taxpayers at home.

The precise location of any missions opened in the lifetime of this Government will be based on an analysis of how they might contribute to the promotion of our economic interests, our values in a changing and uncertain international landscape, the promotion of our culture and in building stronger bridges with our diaspora. This will be set out in more detail in the Global Ireland 2040 Strategy.