Press release
2023 Global Ireland Summit
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
**Note: Media can register to attend by emailing press.registrations@dfa.ie
The 2023 Global Ireland Summit takes place in Dublin Castle tomorrow, Tuesday 24 October.
The annual gathering brings together leaders from across Government, the public service, business, state agencies, culture and the community and civil society sectors, together with Ireland’s international diplomatic network and wider stakeholders from locations around the world. The Summit explores progress and opportunities under Global Ireland, the government’s strategy to double the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint by 2025.
The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, will host the Summit and deliver the keynote address.
A diverse range of speakers at the Summit will include the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, and the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly.
The Summit is the highlight of a four-day series of events and engagements beginning on Monday, 23 October, with the department’s annual Heads of Mission conference and concluding on Thursday, 26 October, with the Global Schools programme in which Heads of Mission and Peacekeepers from the Defence Forces will visit secondary schools in different parts of Ireland to discuss their work.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will address the Heads of Mission and the Summit. The Taoiseach said:
"The Global Ireland Strategy shows an Ireland that is engaged and active in the world. Looking back to 2018 and the launch of the Global Ireland strategy, it was evident that to achieve what we wanted to in the world, we needed to take a generational leap forward in the scale and depth of Ireland’s global presence, engagement, and capacity to influence world affairs.
"In the period since, we have seen an unprecedented expansion in new embassies, consulates and agency offices and staff around the world; increased our international development budget; and we have been elected to the UN Security Council and served with distinction.
"We have instituted a strong Team-Ireland collaborative approach all around the world, and have developed tailored strategies for its different regions. We have taken a whole-of-government approach, mobilising every government department and State agency to make its contribution. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has played a part.”
The Tánaiste Micheál Martin said:
"I am really pleased to have the opportunity to attend the Global Ireland Summit. This summit offers an important opportunity to discuss the implementation of the Global Ireland strategy and I look forward to meeting attendees and engaging on the significant work being carried out to increase Ireland’s footprint and influence around the world.
"A stronger, wider and deeper Global Ireland network will continue to help Ireland take on global economic, political and environmental challenges. It will protect our economic interests, promote our values and build stronger bridges to our diaspora. Team Ireland is government departments and agencies working together - as one team at home and increasingly under one roof overseas - to deliver for the Irish public.”
The recent Review of the Global Ireland Strategy 2018 – 2025 confirmed that delivery of the strategy is on target. The opening or announcement of 22 new Embassies or Consulates (19 new Missions opened - 10 Embassies, 9 Consulates; 3 new Missions announced - Embassy Islamabad and Consulates in Munich and Milan) has given Ireland a stronger platform to win jobs and investment, promote our values and our culture, and reach out to our diaspora. Investment by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Board Bia, Tourism Ireland, Culture Ireland, and Screen Ireland in order to expand their networks is bringing the best of Irish goods and produce further in the world and bringing jobs, investment and visitors to Ireland.
In addition to the 22 missions opened since the launch of the Strategy, Ireland will open four additional overseas missions before 2025. They are currently 20 Ireland Houses where the Embassy and State agencies are co-located and additional flagship Ireland Houses will be developed and opened in Tokyo, London and New York before 2025.
A full list of the priority actions that are agreed by Government will be implemented to deliver the Global Ireland strategy for 2024/25 are listed below.
The theme of the Global Ireland Summit is Community, Creativity and Transformation: Collaborating to deliver Global Impact. Discussions will reflect and expand on several areas including:
A: The following are the priority Global Ireland actions agreed by Government to deliver over 2024-2025:
o a collaborative joined-up approach to country engagement with refreshed ‘Local Market Teams’ covering 35 key markets across the world; and
o an annual Global Ireland ‘all of government’ trade missions, 2023-2025
o by seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term; and
o through our leadership role as co-facilitator for the negotiations on the political declaration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2023
B: The following have been achieved since the adoption of the Global Ireland Strategy in 2018: