FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER Charlie Flanagan has recalled all of Ireland’s ambassadors for a meeting about the country’s recovery.
A number of politicians, including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, will also attend the conference which is called ‘Representing the Global Island’.
Former President Mary Robinson will speak at the event tomorrow about how Ireland should approach climate change as the country’s economy continues to recover.
The last time all of Ireland’s 90 plus ambassadors met was back in 2011. Flanagan said the country’s ambassadorial network is “critically important to our ongoing economic recovery”.
The meeting will focus on trade, with executives from more than 40 Irish companies such as Avolon and Glanbia also attending.
Flanagan said he is “determined to enhance the partnerships that exist between the department and Irish business”.
Representatives from all our third level institutes will join us to discuss future partnerships aimed at attracting more international students to study in Ireland.
We will also be joined by key members of the arts, culture and creative industries to discuss how we can build on the long established links that have seen our embassies act as hubs to support this vibrant sector across the globe.
The three-day event kicked off in Dublin last night with a keynote address by Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the European Commission. Ahead of her speech, Mogherini met with Flanagan at the Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss major issues such as Ukraine, Syria and the Ebola crisis.
This morning the meeting will be addressed by Enda Kenny, Flanagan and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton.
Tomorrow, Minister for the Diaspora Jimmy Deenihan will deliver a speech, as will Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin and former president Robinson, who will be speaking in her capacity as UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Change.
Tánaiste Joan Burton will give the closing address of the conference.
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