Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

189. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on progress towards the establishment of an Irish embassy in the Republic of Serbia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39286/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

190. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any plans to establish an Irish embassy in North Macedonia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39287/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

191. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update regarding progress towards the establishment of an Irish embassy in Montenegro; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39288/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

192. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on progress towards the establishment of an Irish embassy in Bosnia Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39289/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

193. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans to establish an Irish embassy in Albania; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39290/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

194. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to establish an Irish embassy in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39291/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 194, inclusive, together.

In March 2024, the Government announced plans to establish new, resident Embassies of Ireland in both Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in line with the Global Ireland 2025 strategy, which aims to double Ireland's global footprint and influence in the period from 2018 to 2025. Diplomatic teams have now been assigned to these new Embassies, which will become operational in September 2025.

The opening of new Embassies in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is a clear demonstration of Ireland's commitment to the EU integration of the entire Western Balkans, and to the region's future within the EU. The Western Balkans is a geo-strategically important region, situated at the heart of Europe, and surrounded by EU Member States. While the region has made significant progress since the wars that ravaged it in the 1990s, the protection and reinforcement of its peace, stability and prosperity is an ongoing task. Ireland's Defence Forces are already making an important contribution to the region's security, through deployments in EUFOR Althea (in Bosnia-Herzegovina) and KFOR (in Kosovo). Our new Embassies will seek to add to this contribution, drawing on the experiences of post-conflict reconciliation on the island of Ireland.

It can be expected that EU enlargement will be a prominent issue during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the latter half of 2026. Ahead of the EU Presidency, a diplomatic presence in the Western Balkans will allow us to deepen our already positive relationships across the region, and to facilitate engagement and collaboration as we work to maintain and accelerate momentum on the enlargement file.

While there are no plans at present to establish Embassies in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro or North Macedonia, the opening of Embassies in Belgrade and Sarajevo, as well as a new Embassy in Chisinau, will allow our other Embassies in the wider region (Athens, Budapest, Bucharest) to dedicate more resources to these countries, deepening our bilateral relations with partners at a time of welcome momentum in the enlargement process.

Ireland keeps opportunities to open new Missions abroad under constant assessment, in line with our foreign policy goals. A new Global Ireland strategy, which will take into consideration the potential opening of further new Missions going forward, is currently in development.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

195. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on progress towards the establishment of an Irish embassy in the Republic of Moldova; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39292/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland enjoys excellent bilateral relations with Moldova. The Moldovan Government opened a resident Embassy in Dublin in February 2020, which has been positive in terms of increased engagement and cooperation between our two countries, as well as servicing the significant Moldovan Community in Ireland.

Ireland's first resident embassy in Chișinau will open this year. This will contribute to the further deepening of bilateral relations and facilitate deeper engagement on Moldova's EU accession process ahead of our Presidency next year.

I met with Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi, in the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February, where he warmly welcomed the decision to open a resident Embassy in Moldova.

Opening an embassy in Chișinau is a further signal of Ireland's firm support for Moldova, in the context of the challenges the country is facing resulting for Russia's ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine, and Russian hybrid activity seeking to undermine the country's democratic processes and halt its European pathway.

I am pleased to note that preparations for the new mission are on schedule. The Moldovan Government has granted Agrément to Mr. Myles Geiran as the first resident Ambassador of Ireland to Moldova. He is expected to take up duty in Moldova in August 2025.

Until the opening of the new Embassy, Ireland continues to be represented in Moldova by the Honorary Consul, Dr. Suzanne O'Connell, though responsibility for visa processing has been transferred to Embassy Bucharest. There is a small resident Irish population in Moldova, while Ireland hosts a Moldovan community of approximately 30,000 people.

The opening of the embassy in Chișinau provides Ireland with an opportunity to engage more deeply with the Government of Moldova in the context of its EU accession process, the impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and on issues of bilateral importance.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

196. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in light of the status of Georgia as a candidate country for the European Union, if there are any plans to establish an Irish embassy in Georgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39293/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Georgia applied for membership of the European Union on 3 March 2022, alongside the Republic of Moldova. Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, on the understanding that nine criteria specified in the European Commission's November 2023 enlargement package were met. However, its EU progress was de-facto halted by the June 2024 European Council, following the government's adoption of the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence”. Ireland supported this decision.

In late October 2024, the Commission Enlargement Report noted that developments over the last year were not in line with the Georgian Government's stated objective on EU integration. Georgia has made limited to no progress on implementing the recommendations regarding the nine steps linked to Georgia's candidate status and, in many areas, has actually regressed, such as in the areas of countering disinformation, de-oligarchisation, human rights and civil society protections, and electoral reform.

On 28 November 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the Georgian Government would not pursue the opening of EU accession negotiations until the end of 2028 and to refuse any budgetary support from the EU. This announcement sparked protests across Georgia, which have continued to date. Georgia's democratic backsliding has accelerated as the Government responded to political opposition with police brutality, the arbitrary detention of opposition politicians and protestors, and lengthy prison terms for activists. Furthermore, the Government has passed increasingly restrictive legislation that erodes independent media and civil society. Ireland has repeatedly called for Georgia to repeal legislation that goes against EU core values, and to return to the EU path.

As a consequence of Georgia's democratic backsliding, and in coordination with EU partners, Ireland's high-level political engagement with Georgia has been suspended since June 2024. Ireland also supported the decision at EU level to freeze €30 million in support to Georgia via the European Peace Facility (EPF), to withdraw €120 million in funding to the Georgian Government and to reallocate funding to Georgian civil society and independent media. Georgia's continued democratic backsliding will be discussed at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council on 15 July, and further response measures will be considered.

Ireland and Georgia established diplomatic relations on 12 September 1996. The Embassy of Ireland in Türkiye is accredited to Georgia on a non-resident basis, and there is a resident Honorary Consul in Tbilisi, who provides consular support to Irish citizens abroad. There are no current plans to open a resident Embassy of Ireland in Tbilisi. Any decision on the opening of a new embassy is considered with reference to Ireland's national, political and economic priorities.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

197. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans to establish an Irish embassy in Iceland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39294/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 Global Ireland strategy, 27 new diplomatic missions have been opened or their future opening has been announced. 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 other diplomatic missions.

Ireland has an excellent bilateral relationship with Iceland. In February this year, I had my first meeting with the new Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir en marge of the Munich Security Conference. My Department maintains regular diplomatic contacts with Iceland, primarily though our Embassy in Oslo, Norway, which has been accredited to Iceland on a non-resident basis since 2019. The Embassy works to enhance the political and economic relationship between Ireland and Iceland, to enhance links with the Irish diaspora and promote Ireland and Irish culture. The state agencies Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia are based in Stockholm and Copenhagen and are responsible for pursuing Ireland's interests in their respective areas for the whole Nordic region, including Iceland. Ireland has an Honorary Consul based in Reykjavik, Mr Jens Thordarson. Iceland's diplomatic representation to Ireland is based in London and they maintain an Honorary Consul in Ireland.

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. There are currently no plans to open an Irish Embassy in Iceland.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

198. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans to establish an Irish embassy in the Faroe Islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39295/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland's relations with the Faroe Islands are conducted through the Embassy of Ireland to Denmark in Copenhagen. Accordingly, there are no plans to establish an Irish Embassy on the Faroe Islands. The Embassy in Copenhagen maintains close contact with the Faroese Government and the Ambassador visited the islands in May 2024. The European Commission's representative office in Torshavn is an important resource in terms of enhancing Ireland's relations with the Faroe Islands. The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, T.D., also held a bilateral meeting with then Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen of the Faroe Islands in September 2022, in the margins of the UN General Assembly High Level Week.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

199. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans to establish an Irish embassy in Greenland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39296/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland's relations with Greenland are conducted through the Embassy of Ireland to Denmark in Copenhagen. Accordingly, there are no plans to establish an Irish Embassy there. Ireland enjoys good bilateral relations with the Greenlandic Government. The Ambassador in Copenhagen and other embassy officials have visited regularly in recent years and stay in close touch with Greenlandic officials. The European Commission's office in the capital Nuuk, opened in March 2024, is also an important resource to assist Ireland's engagement in Greenland.