Their Excellencies, the British Ambassador and the Ambassadors of Portugal and the Russian Federation presented their Letters of Credence to the President at Áras an Uachtaráin today.
H.E. Mr. Dominick Chilcott, the British Ambassador, was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Jane Chilcott, and by Mr. Andrew Staunton, Deputy Head of Mission.
H.E. Mr. Bernardo Futscher Pereira, Ambassador of Portugal, was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Maria Manuel Stocker, and by Mr. Bruno Paes Moreira, Deputy Head of Mission.
H.E. Mr. Maxim Peshkov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, was accompanied by Mr. Sergey Petrovich, Deputy Head of Mission.
Mr. Joe Costello, T.D., Minister of State for Trade and Development at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, represented the Government at the ceremony.
The following were also present: Mr. Adrian O’Neill, Secretary-General to the President; Mr. David Cooney, Secretary-General at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Ms. Orla O’Hanrahan, Chief of Protocol and Ms. Marion O’Donnell, Assistant Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Ambassadors were escorted to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an Escort of Honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2nd Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Lieutenant Richard Piggot.
The Guard of Honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by troops drawn from the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Cathal Brugha Barracks, under the command of Lieutenant Sarah O’Regan. The Army No. 1 Band was conducted by Captain Declan Whitston.