On the recommendation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, the Government today approved a number of ambassadorial nominations, subject to agreement by the receiving States.
Announcing the nominations, Minister Flanagan said:
“At this time of significant challenge, Ireland is fortunate to have a very experienced team of diplomats ready to represent and advance our strategic interests around the world.
“The nominations approved by Cabinet today include Heads of Mission in a number of key locations, including the UK and a number of EU capitals, the USA, as well as key partner countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
“The Heads of Mission nominated today will play very important roles in advancing Ireland’s strategic interests in respect of the Brexit negotiations ahead, the drive to deepen penetration of EU markets, the advancement of our critical partnership with the USA, the strengthening of trade relations in the Gulf and in the Asia-Pacific regions – the latter particularly important in the context of the forthcoming Cross-Sectoral Strategy for the Asia-Pacific, and ensuring that our humanitarian aid programmes remain world class.
“As a small country, multilateralism is a key element of our foreign policy and today, new ambassadors have also been nominated to the United Nations in Geneva and New York and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
“Some of the changes will involve the return of experienced diplomats to my Department’s headquarters in Dublin and their input to the formulation of Ireland’s foreign policy across the whole range of issues will be of immense value.
“Finally, a number of Ambassadors will be retiring over the coming months and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them and their families for their many years of dedicated service and support and to wish them well for the future.”
The following are the ambassadorial nominations announced today:
Mr Adrian O’Neill, at present Second Secretary at HQ, to be Ambassador to the United Kingdom, to replace Mr. Dan Mulhall.
Ms Geraldine Byrne Nason, at present Ambassador of Ireland to France, to be Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in New York, to replace Mr. David Donoghue who is retiring.
Mr David Cooney, at present Ambassador of Ireland to Spain, to be Ambassador to Italy (and also to Libya and San Marino), to replace Mr. Bobby McDonagh who is returning to Headquarters.
Mr Dan Mulhall, at present Ambassador of Ireland to the United Kingdom, to be Ambassador to the United States of America, to replace Ms. Anne Anderson, who is retiring.
Mr Paul Kavanagh, at present Ambassador of Ireland to China, to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (and also to Afghanistan, Kuwait and Qatar), to replace Mr Pat Hennessy who is retiring.
Ms Patricia O’Brien, at present Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations at Geneva, to be Ambassador to France (and also to Monaco), to replace Ms. Geraldine Byrne-Nason.
Mr Michael Gaffey, at present Director General at HQ, to be Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in Geneva, to replace Ms. Patricia O’Brien.
Mr Eoin O’Leary, at present Director General at HQ, to be Ambassador to China (and also to Mongolia), to replace Mr. Paul Kavanagh.
Mr Kevin Dowling, until recently Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Ireland in Vienna, to be Permanent Representative of Ireland to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, to replace Mr. Philip McDonagh who is retiring.
Ms Síle Maguire, at present Chief of Protocol at HQ, to be Ambassador to Spain (and also to Andorra and Tunisia), to replace Mr. David Cooney.
Mr Julian Clare, at present Director at HQ, to be Ambassador to Korea (and also to North Korea), to replace Ms. Aingeal O’Donoghue.
Mr Gerry Cunningham, at present Head of Development at the Embassy of Ireland in Malawi, to be Ambassador to Malawi, to replace Ms. Áine Hearns, who is returning to Headquarters.
Ms Hilda Ó Riain, at present First Secretary at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels, to be Ambassador to Slovakia, to replace Ms. Anne-Marie Callan who is returning to Headquarters.