William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans to expand or restructure Ireland's diplomatic and trade missions abroad, particularly in emerging markets, including the budget allocated, the timeline for implementation, and expected benefits for trade and diplomatic engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66318/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Deepening Ireland's global engagement and driving trade and prosperity are priority actions for my Department.

Since 2017 as part of the Global Ireland 2025 strategy my Department has opened twenty-five new diplomatic missions around the world with two further Consulates due to open early next year in Melbourne and Malaga. The potential to strengthen Ireland's economic connections with each location and to support greater trade and investment is a key consideration when the Government decides where to open new diplomatic missions.

We are currently in the final year of Global Ireland 2025 and the Government is committed to developing a new Global Ireland 2040 strategy as an overarching masterplan on how to enhance Ireland's influence and partnerships in a more challenging global environment.

Global Ireland 2040 will continue the Government's consistent emphasis on economic promotion and supporting Irish businesses in their market diversification ambitions. This is already reflected in the commitments in the Action Plan on Market Diversification, published in August, to conduct in-depth review of Ireland’s overseas presence with a view to expanding and deepening our presence where needed to support Irish economic priorities. The Action Plan also commits to including market diversification as a key pillar of the new regional strategies to be developed under Global Ireland 2040, and to enhance the Government's approach to trade missions.

As part of Budget 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was allocated €2.5 million to reinforce Ireland’s mission network across the USA and to strengthen Ireland’s presence in key locations around the world as part of our market diversification action plan. Budget 2026 also provides funding for market diversification to other Government Department and the State agencies.