DFAT Departmental Action Plan 2026

57.1 Coordinate the ‘Promoting Ireland’ St Patrick’s Day programme for 2026, involving travel by the Taoiseach, Minister and members of the Government to 50+ countries to promote Ireland, Irish values and interests including through key messages for international audiences a comprehensive communications and media plan. Report to government on activities undertaken

GLOBEC (Global Ireland Unit; Economic, OECD & G20 Unit)

57.2 Advance whole of Government objectives by maintaining and developing strong bilateral relationships across the global mission network; protect and promote Irish interests and values, including within the framework of regional and country strategies

57.3 Implement the final year of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Strategy, undertake programme of political consultations, undertake and launch Mexico economic mapping report, and host the first LAC Trade Horizons conference in Ireland

57.4 Building on the planned ratification of CETA and the Ireland-Canada Economic Impact report, support ambitious programme of inward and outward political visits, prepare for Canada-Ireland 180 cultural season & implement new De Chastelain scholarship initiative

58.1 Use the Government Action Plan on Market Diversification as a platform to deepen Team Ireland connections at HQ and strengthen coordination between the Headquarters Market Team (HQMT) and Local and Regional Market Teams at Missions. HQMT to convene at least three times in 2026; Collaborate with DETE on quarterly reporting on implementation of Action Plan

58.2 Deliver Ireland’s G20 participation under the US Presidency and during Ireland’s EU Presidency; deliver Ireland’s participation in the G20 Leaders’ Summit Q4; Engage with the UK regarding Ireland’s continued participation in the G20 in 2027 during the UK Presidency, Q4; Join-up across government on G20 developments and deliverables including through at least quarterly meetings of the official- led interdepartmental committee

58.3 Engage in strong OECD coordination structures including supporting ministerial attendance at the OECD Ministerial Council in June;build support and understanding of Ireland’s priorities domestically and internationally; co-ordinate the OECD Interdepartmental Committee, and review 2026 engagement, Q4.

58.4 Implement Government Action Plan on India, including the second meeting of Ireland-India Economic Advisory Panel

58.5 Actively engage on OECD trade policy as well as at the WTO including through Ministerial attendance at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon in March. Bring forward proposals for WTO reform during the EU Presidency

59.1 Complete and open Ireland House Lyon, Q2; complete the design of new Ireland House Madrid and new Ireland House Toronto, Q4

59.2 Commence fit out on site of new Ireland House London

59.3 Open new Consulate General in Melbourne, Q1; Open new Consulate General in Malaga, Q2

CSD (PMU) / GLOBEC /

EUTPD / IUKA Division / Political Division

59.4 Complete the fit out and open the permanent Chancery of Embassy Chisinau; the permanent space for the Consulate of Ireland, Manchester; for the Embassy of Ireland, Tehran and the Consulate of Ireland, Miami

CSD (PMU) / GLOBEC /

EUTPD / IUKA Division / Political Division

59.5 Review the Global Ireland Media Challenge Fund and explore a new round of the Fund

59.6 Provide additional multilingual content on Ireland.ie commencing with translation of 15 key Mission sites; Restructure the Pillar pages on Ireland.ie (Visit, Trade, Invest and Study); and agree publishing plans with State Agencies for Ireland.ie to highlight work of Team Ireland

60.1 Enhance Ireland’s visibility and reputation abroad by delivering effective digital campaigns for key public diplomacy milestones including St Brigid’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and Bloomsday and Beyond and amplifying content by Team Ireland partners including Tourism Ireland’s ‘Home of Halloween’ campaign

60.2 Provide communications support for UN High-Level Week in September, Canada-Ireland 180 and other public diplomacy campaigns

60.3 Engage in public outreach at major national events, including Young Scientists (Q1), Science Blast (Q1), Fís (Q1), Africa Day (Q2) and the National Ploughing Championships (Q3)

61.1 Work with Department of the Taoiseach and the Global Ireland SOG to deliver the new Global Ireland 2040 strategy

62.1 In line with the objectives of Global Ireland 2040, commence consideration and development of new whole-of-government strategies for priority partner countries and regions for phased publication in 2026/27, including new strategies covering Latin America and the Caribbean, the US, Canada, the Asia Pacific region, Africa, SIDS, the Middle East and North Africa, France, Germany, Nordic-Baltic and Western Balkans regions

63.1 Deliver high-level political engagement throughout the year and incoming visits at administration, congressional and state level

63.2 Implement a programme to mark America 250 in the US to highlight Ireland’s historic and present connections to the US

63.3 Communicate the story of mutually beneficial Ireland – US economic links, continue to engage the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel, and deepen our understanding of Ireland’s economic impact in the US

63.4 Expand diplomatic team in the US, including in the Southern States

64.1 Convene meetings of the Trade Forum throughout 2026 to be chaired by Minister

GLOBEC (Economic, OECD & G20 Unit) / EUTPD (Trade Policy Unit)

64.2 Develop, in cooperation with the political, public and private sectors, a new Forum Work Plan which supports delivery of DFAT and government priorities, Q1; Implement new Forum Work Plan, Q4

GLOBEC (Economic, OECD & G20 Unit) / EUTPD (Trade Policy Unit)

65.1 Lead the implementation of actions to be delivered by DFAT under the Action Plan on Market Diversification (APMD). Overall Implementation of APMD to be coordinated by the HQ Market Team and submitted to the Cabinet Committee on the Economy

65.2 Support DFHERIS to appoint Innovation Attachés in strategically important Missions, Q2 and coordinate review of trade and investment attaché network and the State Agency footprint abroad, Q4

66.1 Engage with D/Finance regarding adding new Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan tax treaties, and an updated Sweden tax treaty, to Finance Bill 2026

67) Develop a strategy to map, support, and tell the story of Irish investment overseas

68.1 Build Global Gateway Team national networks within DFAT and across Government with relevant Departments / agencies to support awareness within private sector of the Global Gateway Strategy

68.2 Provide €2.22million in funding to partners working Aid for Trade to support effective participation by developing countries, especially LDCs in the WTO; ensure LDCs are supported to develop and implement trade related policies and regulations to build trade capacity and strengthen productivity

69.1 Deliver UK Ireland 2030 Culture Partnership programme with D/Culture Communications and Sport and UK Government for announcement at UK Ireland Summit in March, Q1; Deliver UK Ireland 2030 Culture Partnership programme with DCCS and UK Government, Q2 – Q3

69.2 Deliver EU Presidency Cultural Programme in partnership with Culture Ireland and missions

70.1 Finalise and launch the International Sports Diplomacy Strategy; commence governance structures and implementation plan and begin implementing Department-led actions of the Strategy

70.2 Launch a new International Sports Diplomacy Fund

71.1 Recruit a Chief Information Officer to develop the Department’s ICT network, infrastructure and business support systems, Q2; and establish a new ICT Division, Q4

72.1 Complete SEAI’s Monitoring & Reporting System; deliver projects to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions; lead staff initiatives and deliver guidelines on sustainable meetings

73) Support and invest in continuous learning and development (including language training) for all staff at home and abroad

74.1 Develop an Innovation Strategy for the Department following staff consultation; promote and support Public Service Transformation Week and organise a DFAT specific event

74.2 Deliver a revised iteration of the Department’s AI Policy and support its rollout

75.1 Launch Reasonable Accommodation Implementation Group

HRD (Strategic HR / Workplace Relations and Wellbeing)

75.3 In line with the ongoing DFAT commitment to gender equality, ensure at least 50% of Heads of Mission posts are held by female officers (at each of the A/Sec; Counsellor/PO; & FS/AP grades)

76) Strengthen supports for our posted staff and accompanying family members as well as for our locally engaged colleagues overseas

77) Provide effective Management Board leadership in line with the Department’s Corporate Governance Framework

78.1 Implement the final year of the SCC strategy; and extend the Department’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2022-25 by one year to facilitate the development of a new ICT Strategy in 2027

78.5 Publish a Public Sector Duty Assessment; integrate PSD into strategic business cycle

79) Continue to deliver projects governed by a robust project management approach and in line with public spending regulations

80.1 Deliver a high-quality overall programme of visits for Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers, and other high-level visitors, in collaboration with other Departments, external stakeholders; deliver world-class events in Iveagh house and other venues, including during the Presidency

80.2 Plan and deliver high quality visits of the President abroad, in coordination with the relevant Embassy and local authorities

81.1 Participate in and complete National Cyber Security Centre NIS2/CyFun Pilot Project

82) Ensure efficient and effective processes to comply with statutory obligations in information management, including Customer Services; Data Protection; Lobbying; Freedom of Information; and Protected Disclosures and with regard to the Official Languages Acts

83.1 Conduct internal audits of key risk areas, including 8 to 10 Mission audits; conduct 5 evaluations including 3 Mission Strategies; support the Department in combatting fraud in its business operations and programmes

84) Continue to invest in a strong health, safety and security culture within the Department, recognising the challenges and risks associated with operating in increasingly unstable and insecure environments globally