Speech by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris at 2025 Global Ireland Summit, Dublin Castle, 6 May 2025

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Thank you Áine and good morning everyone.

I’m delighted to be here with you all today, to open the 2025 Global Ireland Summit and to reflect on Ireland’s place in the world.

The world we face in 2025 is not the one we imagined just seven years ago when the Global Ireland Strategy was launched.

Since then, the geo-political environment has grown more complex, more competitive, and at times, more fragile.

We did not know what the shape of the world in 2025 would be when we designed the Global Ireland Strategy in 2018.

But we know now that by doubling the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint, through a robust implementation of the strategy, that we are more adaptable to change, more able to advance our values and interests, and more responsive to the needs of our citizens abroad.

Since 2018, we’ve dramatically expanded Ireland’s diplomatic footprint with the opening of 27 missions under the Global Ireland Strategy.

We have deepened our resources in strategically important embassies such as Washington D.C., London, Paris and Berlin, as well as our mission to the EU in Brussels.

During this time, we have significantly increased Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, from almost €792 million in 2018, to €2.6 billion in 2023.

We have built a network of cultural attaches and demonstrated our place on the world stage by serving as a member of the UN Security Council.

Global Ireland 2025 has facilitated significant progress in developing a coherent, coordinated and impactful presentation of Ireland to the world, one which I am determined to build on further in my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

We have achieved the ambitions set out in the Global Ireland Strategy, but in 2025, scale alone isn’t enough.

It is about using our presence wisely, building partnerships that are values and interests-based, future-oriented, and resilient in the face of volatility.

I am particularly delighted to welcome our Ambassadors and Heads of Mission here today as well as the leaders of other government departments and State agencies.

Colleagues, the term “Team Ireland” can be overused but its impact and effectiveness is real.

We are simply too small to do anything other than operate with a unified approach internationally and will continue to do so.

The one constant in our international approach is our commitment to core values which also underpin our interests. Indeed, our most fundamental interest is the protection of our values:

• values that are people focussed with a firm commitment to human rights and to equality be that gender, race or sexual orientation or other areas where discrimination exists
• we believe in a commitment to equality of opportunity and humanitarian assistance to the most disadvantaged around the world
• a commitment too to the United Nations, multilateralism and international law and, fundamentally, the pursuit of peace and security

After all, we have our own lived experience on this island that the most intractable conflict can be resolved, through painstaking commitment to negotiation, and dialogue, and compromise.

A commitment also to maintaining Ireland’s place at the heart of European Union.

As someone who specifically sought the area of trade as part of my ministerial portfolio, I believe wholeheartedly in the commitment to the importance of open global trading systems unhindered by protectionism.

Colleagues, these values will be central to the government’s approach to developing a successor strategy, Global Ireland 2040.

The new strategy offers an opportunity to reflect with ambition about how we further enhance Ireland’s place in the world.

And it will be central to how we use our deepened global footprint to promote our interests and values, influence international affairs, and strengthen vital relationships with our partners worldwide.

Rest assured, we will bring a distinctly Irish lens to global issues; prioritising diplomacy, dialogue, and development.

We start from a place of strength, with not only the success of the Global Ireland Strategy, but also the whole-of-government regional strategies covering Latin America, Asia-Pacific, China, US & Canada, the Middle East and Africa developed under Global Ireland.

We have a robust resilient economy with full employment notwithstanding the economic headwinds that we all face.

These will be renewed and built on with even greater “Team Ireland” ambition.

Colleagues, the multilateral system, with the UN Charter at its heart, is our most important global asset.

It is fundamental to Ireland’s values and interests.

Support for multilateralism has been the cornerstone of our foreign policy since independence.

This has been perhaps most clearly demonstrated in our commitment to the UN, including our proud and unrivalled record of contributing to UN peacekeeping missions.

We know that it is important more than ever.

Today, multilateralism is under pressure, from the weight of challenges facing the global community, and the weight of expectations from populations around the world seeking solutions to the scourge of conflict, hunger, climate change, inequality and lack of development.

These are challenges that no one country can solve alone. We need to work together.

We need strong multilateral institutions with a strong UN at its heart, to meet the challenges of our century.

Today, too, there are a record number of conflicts, more than at any other time in the UN’s history.

And so, colleagues, one thing is for certain; Peace is becoming ever more fragile, and must never be taken for granted.

One area of conflict that I have just recently returned from is the Middle East, specifically Southern Lebanon.

There I saw first hand the very reason why Ireland has the longest unbroken peacekeeping record of any country in the world.

In Southern Lebanon, the women and men of Óghlaigh na hÉireann are not just promoters of Peace, they are out there embedded in the communities, instilling our values and core belief that core and division achieve nothing.

Our soldiers are, in the words of former US President JF Kennedy, doing ‘the world’s most important work, that’s the work of Peace.’

Unfortunately though, across the world today, too often we see the principles of international law cynically undermined and ignored.

This to be honest is depressing at times, for it feeds a sense of disillusionment about the ability of our multilateralism to deliver security, prosperity and development.

That’s why it is more important now than ever that countries like Ireland stand up for the values and ideals that the multilateral system embodies.

It’s why I am proud that we are putting ourselves forward for membership of the Human Rights Council for the period 2027 – 2029.

If elected, we will bring the same commitment we have always demonstrated to promoting the protection of human rights, accountability, and compliance with international law.

These are values and ideals that we, the Irish people, believe can never and will never be compromised or sacrificed.

Ukraine

Colleagues,

For over three years, Russia has continued its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russia’s reckless actions represent a serious threat to global peace and security. They risk emboldening other States who may decide that borders can be changed by force.

This has far-reaching consequences not just for Ukraine, but for European security, international law and the multilateral rules-based order.

Together with our EU partners, Ireland has been steadfast in its solidarity with Ukraine since Day One of Russia’s war.

We have committed extensive political, economic, humanitarian and military support.

We all want to see an end to this conflict and peace in Ukraine. But how we make peace matters.

Any negotiation on the future of a country must have that country’s voice heard loud and clear.

Ukraine must be centrally involved in the negotiations. Quite frankly, there needs to be a clear European role as well.

We need to see a comprehensive, just and lasting peace which upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity based on the UN Charter and international law.

There must be robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine that contribute to deterring future Russian aggression.

One of the most important long-term security guarantees we can offer to Ukraine is membership of the European Union.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of enlargement and we will continue to advocate for Ukraine on its EU accession path.

We do so because the Ukrainian people have made clear their European choice, and the Ukrainian Government has demonstrated its commitment to the reform process.

They have made clear their desire for a European future.

They have shown that they are prepared to fight for this with their lives.

Security and Defence

Colleagues, the global security environment has become more contested, complex and interconnected.

We see this clearly with Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine.

We also see it in the increased in scale and recklessness of Russia’s campaign of hybrid activity.

Our policy of military neutrality does not inherently insulate us from the impacts of a rapidly changing and volatile international security environment.

We have always taken an active approach to global challenges and making significant contributions to international peace and security.

We recognise the need to strengthen our defence capabilities in light of the changed geopolitical landscape.

Significant work is ongoing and I intend to continue leading our efforts in this regard over term of this government.

But being neutral does not mean shirking our responsibility, keeping the head down and hiding in the shadows.

We will continue to be militarily neutral. But that does not mean we shoudn’t invest properly in defence capability.

Middle East

I’d like now to turn my attention to the conflict in the Middle East, which remains a priority for me and indeed this government.

To be honest, I am deeply appalled and sickened about Israel’s continuing blockade of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

We have reports from the World Food Programme that food supplies are running out, with famine now a real risk for many Gazans.

Colleagues, children are being left starving, and even dying, as we speak.

We cannot and will not stand idly by and let this happen.

The failure to move to phase two of the ceasefire and hostage release deal has been devastating for the families involved and for ordinary Palestinians in Gaza.

So today, I call again for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of all remaining hostages, and the resumption of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza.

I have condemned Hamas for its actions in Gaza and its terrorist attack on Israel.

But Ireland and its EU partners have repeatedly urged Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.

I am concerned at reports that Israel may plan to extend its military operations in Gaza and call for restraint.

Humanitarian agencies, including UNRWA, must be allowed to operate fully.

And we must resist challenges to UNRWA’s mandate that threaten the integrity of the international system.

In the West Bank, settlement activity is rising and Israel is conducting its single largest military operation in 20 years, which has resulted in the displacement of at least 40,000 people.

Our position on the conflict is grounded in a deep commitment to international law.

We remain convinced that the implementation of the two-State solution is the only way to establish lasting peace and security for both Israel and Palestine, and the wider region.

We need to get back to a political pathway.

But first we need the violence to stop.

I condemn the Houthi missile attack on Israel at the weekend. The Houthis have brought only suffering to the people of Yemen and the region.

I welcome the recent start of talks between Iran and the United States on Iran’s nuclear programme. A negotiated solution would be an important contribution to regional peace and security.

Driving the EU Agenda

Colleagues,

At a time when the rules-based international order is under pressure, it is more important than ever that the European Union stands united, and Ireland will be a driver of ambition in this regard.

Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time in the second half of 2026.

It will be an important opportunity for us to lead, and to shape the agenda of an evolving Union.

The Programme for Government underlines that the preparation and delivery of a successful Presidency will be a central priority for our work across Government in the months ahead.

Doing the job well will ensure that Ireland’s position, influence and reputation in the EU is maintained, and enhanced.

We will have a challenging task as we work to advance the Union’s agenda against a complex geopolitical background.

Our Presidency term will come at a crucial time for the European Union.

We face a less predictable international environment than we have known for a very long time.

Our agenda will be a full one, and a demanding one.

We will focus on those areas where we can make the most effective contribution, and where we can best advance a positive policy agenda for the Union and all its citizens.

Ireland has seven successful Presidencies under our belt, and I know that in 2026 we will deliver another successful one.

The EU Strategic Agenda

The EU Strategic Agenda covers the five years from 2024 to 2029 and sets out the political direction and overarching priorities to guide the work of the EU during that period.

The text focuses on three key areas: a free and democratic Europe; a strong and secure Europe; and a prosperous and competitive Europe.

Since the previous Strategic Agenda was agreed in 2019, Europe has faced crises and uncertainty having seen the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Europe, and populist electoral upheavals alongside ongoing economic shifts and the climate crisis.

We are living in turbulent times, and more than ever, we need to work together across Europe to protect and defend our interests and our values.

We need to prepare our Union to receive new member States while also working to strengthen Rule of Law mechanisms and championing the rules-based international order.

I welcome the strong reaffirmation of these values in the new Strategic Agenda, as well as the commitment to continued implementation of the Climate and Digital transitions.

I particularly welcome the emphasis in the Agenda on deepening the Single Market, the recognition that it represents our greatest asset, and that it is key to our continued prosperity, particularly in the current context of global trade challenges.

Global trade and economy

Colleagues,

Ireland’s story is one of openness – openness to the world, to trade, to new ideas and partnerships.

Our prosperity is enhanced by our ability to produce high-quality goods and services and bring them to global markets.

The Irish economy performed strongly last year, reflecting ongoing gains in the labour market and a significant easing in inflation, which helped support solid growth in the domestic economy.

However, the economic backdrop has become increasingly uncertain.

The most pressing risks are external in nature and include risks related to increased trade protectionism and weaker than expected demand in our main trading partners.

This has been a tumultuous period for those engaged in international trade arising from the actions of the US administration.

Last October I had the opportunity to be in Washington DC to mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the US.

Together we have deep and strong bilateral relations, built on a rich foundation of ancestral ties.

We also have remarkably close economic, diplomatic and political links, including longstanding US support for peace on the island of Ireland.

This is a mutually beneficial relationship. Ireland provides an English-speaking gateway to a European Union of 450 million customers for US companies.

But Irish companies are also a huge employer of American workers and purchaser of American goods and services.

Their own numbers tell this story: Ireland is now the 6th largest source of foreign direct investment into the US.

This investment supports American jobs and involves significant purchases of American goods and services.

Irish-owned companies employ more than 200,000 workers across the US.

The US-Ireland economic relationship benefits all our people, on both sides of the Atlantic, creating good jobs, strong communities, and stability and prosperity more generally.

However We see no justification for tariffs imposed by the US administration on its trading partners, including EU exports. The government’s views on this have been consistent throughout.

Tariffs are counter-productive; they drive inflation and hurt consumers on all sides.

We want trade issues to be resolved through substantive, calm, measured dialogue with the United States

All sides need to engage in good faith because uncertainty and turmoil is not the way forward.

These are the messages I delivered when I visited Washington DC last week including in my meeting with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick.

EU unity is crucial. The Irish Government strongly supports the approach being pursued by European Commission President von der Leyen and the Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

If the last few months have shown us anything, it is that diversification of our markets has never been more important.

The government has begun developing a detailed action plan for trade diversification, which will seek to identify new opportunities and alternative markets for Irish goods, working closely with our embassies and state bodies abroad.

This will be accompanied by a sustained focus on competitiveness, supporting efforts at EU level, and also driving competitiveness domestically in support of Irish businesses, investment in Ireland, jobs and our continued prosperity.

Peace and Reconciliation

Colleagues, I’ve spoken about the breadth of our global engagement.

But that engagement starts closer to home; here, on this island, north and south, and in the British-Irish relationship. Peace and reconciliation on this island – and across these islands – remains at the heart of our foreign policy.

We are in a moment where the relationships between Dublin, London and Belfast are warm, and constructive, and have enormous potential.

If the experience of the last few years tells us anything, it tells us that we can not take this for granted. There is an onus on the government to maximise this moment of political stability.

And this is what we are doing. In March, the inaugural UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool agreed an extensive and ambitious agenda for cooperation, across foreign and security policy, trade and investment, energy cooperation, and education, youth and culture.

We reaffirmed at that Summit that our shared, solemn duty as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement is at the heart of that cooperation.

Since I took office as Tánaiste three months ago, I have been clear that I will do everything possible to see whether we can reach agreement with the British government on legacy issues.

As we have said many times, any solution must be ECHR compliant and able to command the support of victims and families. Intensive work on this is underway.

It is not easy, but it could not be more important. The thousands of victims and survivors of the Troubles on this island deserve nothing less.

Ten days ago, I met with Secretary of State Hilary Benn in Hillsborough at the BIIGC and committed to continuing to work with him to see if we can reach agreement in the coming weeks. I repeat that commitment today.

Our work with the Northern Ireland Executive, including in the framework of the North South Ministerial Council continues.

Week in and week out, Ministers North and South meet to agree practical cooperation in health, education, agriculture, research and innovation, economic cooperation, tourism, environment, transport.

All of this underpins and contributes to a thriving all-island economy, with cross-border trade worth in excess of €15 billion per year.

Culture and Sport

Today’s programme is also a reminder of the multi-faceted nature of international diplomacy.

For a country like Ireland this is achieved through our use of soft power.

Our use of culture and literature of which we’re very proud have been calling cards for us to raise awareness of Ireland overseas for many years.

Today we add sports diplomacy to this through the adoption by Government later this morning of a Framework policy on sports diplomacy.

Conclusion

As we look around the world from the illegal invasion of Ukraine, to the urgent need for peace in the Middle East, to the challenges facing our global economy, Ireland stands firm in our commitment to international law, to multilateralism, and to European values.

We do so not as a passive observer, but as an active contributor to shaping the global response.

I firmly believe that Ireland can contribute from position of practical and lived experience to these global issues.

An inward-looking and economically challenged country not that long ago to one of which we should all be proud.

We are an optimistic people by nature but not naïve to the global and domestic challenges we face.

This summit is a reminder of the depth of talent and expertise we have across our global network.

Together, let’s continue to champion an Ireland that is outward-looking, confident, and constructive on the world stage, leading with both principle and purpose.

Thank you for being here with us today and I look forward to engaging with you all.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.