Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new Irish Consulate General Office in Kuwait. [21800/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence.

Under the The Global Ireland strategy, 27 missions diplomatic missions have been opened or announced to be opened. This has been accompanied by a significant expansion of the State Agency presence in key markets and by the strengthening of resources in a number of diplomatic missions.

Ireland has an excellent bilateral relationship with Kuwait. My Department maintains regular diplomatic contacts with Kuwait, primarily though our Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, who presented her credentials to the former Emir, Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on 31 May 2023, and who travels there frequently for contacts with government, business and Irish community contacts. The Director General of the Political Division conducted Political Consultations with his counterpart in Kuwait last week. We also engage with Kuwait through its Embassy to Ireland, based in Dublin, and in UN fora.

The Government reviews the network of diplomatic missions on an ongoing basis, and will do so in the context of the successor to the Global Ireland Strategy foreseen in the Programme for Government. In considering locations for new Missions, a range of factors are taken into account including the needs of Irish citizens overseas, our national, political, economic and trade priorities, as well as the availability of resources.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new Irish Consulate General Office in Qatar. [21801/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence.

Under the The Global Ireland strategy, 27 missions diplomatic missions have been opened or announced to be opened. This has been accompanied by a significant expansion of the State Agency presence in key markets and by the strengthening of resources in a number of diplomatic missions.

Ireland has an excellent bilateral relationship with Qatar. My Department maintains regular diplomatic contacts with Qatar, primarily though our Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, who presented her credentials to the Emir of Qatar in March 2023, and who travels there frequently for contacts with government, business and Irish community contacts. We also engage with Qatar through its Embassy to Ireland, based in London, and in UN fora.

The Government reviews the network of diplomatic missions on an ongoing basis, and will do so in the context of the successor to the Global Ireland Strategy foreseen in the Programme for Government. In considering locations for new Missions, a range of factors are taken into account including the needs of Irish citizens overseas, our national, political, economic and trade priorities, as well as the availability of resources.