Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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88. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to establish new Irish embassies during the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42451/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Global Ireland 2025 was launched by Government with the aim of doubling Ireland’s impact globally by 2025. Under the strategy, Ireland’s diplomatic footprint has expanded significantly with the opening or announcement of twenty-seven new missions.

In March 2024, five new diplomatic missions were announced. They are embassies in Belgrade, Chisinau and Sarajevo; and consulates general in Málaga and Melbourne. These missions are scheduled to become operational over the course of 2025 and 2026. Additionally, there has been a strengthening of strategically important diplomatic missions, including in Berlin, Brussels, London, Paris and Washington DC.

In support of our expanded network we also consolidated the Ireland House model, where we co-locate missions with the state agencies. Most recently, Ireland Houses have been opened in New York, Tokyo and Stockholm, bringing their total to 20. The benefits of co-locating Team Ireland under the one roof are enormous and I am determined, as set out in the Programme for Government, to further develop the Ireland House model.

The Programme for Government also sets out an ambition for a new Global Ireland 2040 Strategy as successor to the current strategy.

Consideration of the location of future new Irish missions will be made in the context of the new strategy, and will be informed by a robust analysis of how they might contribute to the promotion of our economic interests, our values in this changing and uncertain international landscape, the promotion of our culture and in building stronger links with our diaspora.