Keynote address by Tánaiste at the Global Ireland Summit

Check against delivery

Dear friends,

Céad míle fáilte romhaibh uile chuig Comhdháil Dhomhanda na hÉireann. Tá ríméad orm a bheith i láthair inniu i measc lucht ceannaireachta atá chomh láidir, ilghnéitheach libhse, ó gach cearn de shaol na hÉireann. Tá áthas ar leith orm fáilte abhaile a chur roimh ár n-Ambasadóirí, ár n-Ardchonsail agus ár gConsail Onóracha.

Welcome to the Global Ireland Summit. I am delighted to be here this afternoon with such a strong and diverse cohort of leaders from across Irish life. I am particularly pleased to welcome home our Ambassadors, Consul Generals and Honorary Consuls.

Five years ago when Global Ireland was launched, it was welcomed as ambitious.

Today, at a time of unprecedented global challenge, it is indispensable.

We have lived through a global pandemic. We are facing war once again in Europe, a growing climate crisis, and most recently horrifying developments in the Middle East.

Just as the challenges the world faces are global, so too are the solutions – only through dialogue, partnership, adherence to existing rules and agreements carefully reached, can sustainable progress be made.

My address to you this morning is about strengthening global connections.

For Ireland that means:

• upholding the values and rules which underpin the connections Ireland makes in the world
• building and strengthening our connections across the world through Global Ireland
• and the supporting the connections Irish people continue to make internationally

First, as we seek greater connections and build our global engagement, it is essential that we promote and protect the rules-based international order.

Since joining the League of Nations just over 100 years ago, the values of human rights, equality, respect and dialogue, have guided Ireland’s engagement in the world.

The UN Charter and the series of international laws, legal principles, rules, norms and institutions which followed, and which we helped to create, embody our values.

As inhabitants of a small, militarily neutral country, we stand up for international cooperation, the rules-based international order, because it is the right thing to do. But it is also how we open up stable and secure paths for our people, our businesses, and our institutions.

As the world faces today’s increased uncertainty and armed conflict, these fundamental rules and systems are being tested severely.

Every transgression of these rules weakens the very system on which we rely for protection of our freedom, security and values. We will continue to do everything we can to uphold them.

This is why during our term on the UN Security Council, Ireland repeatedly stood firm - consistently, independently and impartially - in defence of international law, human rights, humanitarian principles, and gender equality.

Beyond our membership of the Council, this year we continued to strive for progress through the multilateral system, working with Qatar to negotiate the SDG Summit’s Political Declaration.

Looking ahead, we are also running for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term.

The rising toll of civilian casualties and civilian suffering in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory is horrifying.

I unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel. Israel absolutely has the right to self-defence; to defend itself and its people in response to this heinous attack by Hamas. We continue to call on Israel to do so within the parameters of the law.

International humanitarian law exists for a reason. It is universally applicable for a reason. We have consistently called for de-escalation and the protection of civilians to be the priority.

I echo the UN Secretary General’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those now in desperate need in Gaza.

In Ukraine, it has now been over 600 days since Russia launched its brutal and unjustified invasion. Russia has been attempting to fatally undermine the solidarity and security of Europe, and the UN Charter, but Ireland has been steadfast in our support for Ukraine from the outset.

We have provided political, humanitarian and stabilisation support to Ukraine as it exercises its legitimate right to self-defence.

We have welcomed almost 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war, representing some 1.9% of our population.

The European Union has mobilised unprecedented and multifaceted assistance for Ukraine and also granted candidate status and membership perspective.

Of course, the impact of Russia’s aggression is being felt in a profound way far beyond Ukraine.

We are working as a government, and together with our EU partners to respond to the challenges which this war has created for countries globally, including food and energy insecurity.

As we face today’s unprecedented challenges, Ireland believes, as it always has, that what is required is more connection, more engagement in the world, not less.

This is the conviction that lies at the heart of Global Ireland.

Guided by our values, this government is focussed on building Ireland’s impact, reach and influence in the world; forging new partnerships and strengthening older ones.

The ambition is to make our voice count for more on the international stage, to build our reputation, and to be a strong participant in global enterprise, trade, culture, diplomacy, peacebuilding, and development.

From the outset, this has been a whole-of-government initiative, recognising that Ireland’s impact in the world involves all of us, all departments, all agencies, all cultural institutions.

Crucially, it also belongs to the Irish people whether they be based at home or abroad.

The Irish people, including many of you in the room today, are the unspoken asset, the common thread essential to the success of Global Ireland.

It is the Irish people’s unique ability to build and sustain relationships, to embody Irish values, exert influence and have a lasting impact whether in business, government, arts, sports or culture, which enables us to be the ambitious global actor we are today.

It is the Irish people’s impact on the world which often opens the pathways for the country to prosper, to deliver for all its citizens and to be a force for good in the world.

We have announced 22 new missions. From as far away as Wellington to as close as Cardiff, the doors of new missions have opened.

New economic agency presences are broadening our networks and building new partnerships for Ireland all around the world. Next year we will open new missions in Milan, Munich and Islamabad.

We will expand our network of Ireland Houses in key locations, including opening the new flagship Ireland House in New York, London and Tokyo, complementing Ireland’s presence at Expo 2025 Osaka.

We will deploy a new integrated communication strategy, with ireland.ie as our primary digital platform.

Building on an expanded cultural attaché programme, we will develop a strategy for the support of key of international cultural and diaspora capital projects.

The collaborative whole-of-government approach that defines Global Ireland, comes to life with the five Regional strategies that underpin the programme.

Work is ongoing on a new strategy for the Middle East and North Africa, building on the regional strategies for Africa, the Nordics, North America and Canada, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The countries of the Asia Pacific region represent half of the world’s population and are at the forefront of innovation and design, driving two thirds of economic growth.

The region includes important global actors, whose role and input are essential to addressing global challenges such as climate change, and to ensuring peace and security.

Recognising the changing geopolitical landscape in the region, and in a renewal of our ambition, the government has also decided to update our Asia-Pacific Strategy.

Earlier this year, I set out Ireland’s approach to our valued relationship with China.

I underlined our commitment to engagement on global challenges, and to growing the mutually beneficial ties that have been developed between our two countries.

I reiterated this government’s continued adherence to the One China Policy.

I also made clear that we will act to protect our interests and our values – whether that be taking steps to shore up our economic resilience, advocating for a level playing field for Irish business, or prioritising the preservation and promotion of human rights.

Our policy is aligned with that of our EU partners and has recently been framed as ‘de-risking’.

I want to be clear that this doesn’t mean turning our back on an economic, diplomatic and cultural relationship with China.

And it is very much in this spirit that I will travel to China in the coming weeks, to engage with my Chinese counterparts, to enhance the bilateral relationship and to establish a solid basis for constructive dialogue both on issues where we share a common interest and on those where our approaches differ.

Closer to home, our membership of the European Union will remain core to our future development, prosperity and global engagement.

We are proud to be leading members of a Union in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality are valued, nurtured and never taken for granted. We look forward to our Presidency in 2026 for which work is well underway.

Our EU membership has played a vital role in our own journey towards peace and reconciliation on this island.

Just as Ireland has benefited immensely from our membership of the European Union, we wish to see others similarly benefit. We believe that growing our Union is the best investment in peace, security and prosperity for our Continent.

We strongly support the enlargement process. A strong and united EU can play a positive role globally in addressing the challenges we face.

On this island, 25 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the government continues to work to build connections north and south, east and west.

Through the Shared Island Initiative, which I established within the Department of the Taoiseach, we can deliver for our citizens by investing and working together on this island (and across these islands), on issues from transport infrastructure, to research cooperation, to cultural exchange.

I believe that this sort of tangible investment in relationships – that respects the diverse political and cultural traditions of our people – is central to fully realising the peace and reconciliation made possible by the Agreement.

We want to work with the British Government to restore the partnership approach that has always defined the peace process when it works best.

There is no doubt that the challenges arising from Britain’s decision to leave the EU has put strain on that partnership, but our connections to Britain are wide and deep, and we are absolutely committed to rebuilding trust and working together to unlock the potential of Northern Ireland.

Finally, I want to return to our people, and the strong connections they have made and continue to make.

Our peace-keepers, who through their unbroken record of service in UN peace operations since 1958, as well as in UN-mandated, EU-led and NATO-led crisis management missions, exemplify Ireland’s commitment to the maintenance of the rules-based international order.

Our development workers, and our missionaries before them, continue to demonstrate unwavering support to the most vulnerable.

This year during the most challenging humanitarian crises, earthquakes in Türkiye, civil war in Sudan, Irish people could be found responding.

Our nurses, doctors, teachers, construction workers whose contribution built the infrastructure and social institutions upon which so many now rely, in particular in Britain and the United States.

Today, a new generation is contributing in science, technology, business, the arts and much more across the globe. They are building international careers and lives from jobs started at home in companies with global footprints.

Wherever the diaspora may be, the Department of Foreign Affairs is extensively involved in supporting them through the Emigrant Support Programme and our Diplomatic Network.

Since 2004, a total of €220 million has been spent to help a huge number of Irish diaspora organisations across forty-seven countries.

Likewise, our consular engagement has become ever more active as the world becomes ever more interconnected. Here I would like to make a special mention of our network of Honorary Consuls who do so much to support Irish citizens abroad. You are especially welcome here today.

Tomorrow I will launch the department's updated Consular Strategy which clearly sets out how we will improve our reach and effectiveness in delivering consular services.

This government is focussed on the opportunities which Global Ireland can harness.

As we expand and deepen our global network, I believe the new partnerships we create will allow us to seize opportunities and foster innovation, particularly in the technology space.

Ireland’s engagement on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies are examples of where it is important to do this effectively.

And so as we look ahead, let me quote the seanfhocal -

Chíonn beirt rud nach bhfeiceann duine amháin.

Two heads are better than one.

Ireland’s engagement in the world goes well beyond Government and in this increasingly interconnected and complex world, working together we can achieve more and contribute more working together. In fact, I believe it is essential we do so.

A stronger, wider and deeper Global Ireland network will continue to help Ireland take on the global economic, political and environmental challenges we face and to seize new opportunities.

That’s why we are here today, to connect, to inspire and to build together.

I am encouraged by what we have achieved through Global Ireland so far and I am looking forward to working closely together on realising its full ambition.

I want to thank you again for your presence here this afternoon, and more importantly I want to thank you for the important and very valuable work you do.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.