New Ambassadors present Credentials - 12 November 2024

Her Excellency, Betty Escorcia Baquero, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia, and Her Excellency, Nicolette Schreiber, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa presented their Letters of Credence to President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin today.

Her Excellency, Betty Escorcia Baquero, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia was accompanied by Mr. Carlos Andrés Padrón Barrios, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia.

Her Excellency, Nicolette Schreiber, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, was accompanied by her spouse, Mr. Austin Schreiber, her daughter Ms. Carla Schreiber and Ms Mabet Van Rensburg, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa.

Thomas Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and at the Department of Education, with special responsibility for the Gaeltacht, Sport and Physical Education represented the government at the ceremony.

The following were also present: Ms. Orla O’ Hanrahan, Secretary General to the President; Mr. Eoin O’Leary, Director General, Strategy Governance and Change Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Ralph Victory, Deputy Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs; Col. Stephen Howard, Comdt. Brian Walsh, and Comdt. Deirdre Newell, Aides-de-Camp to the President; and Mr. Joe Brennan, Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Ambassadors were accompanied to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an Escort of Honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2 Brigade Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Lieutenant Clare Murphy.

A Guard of Honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by the 12 Infantry Battalion, Sarsfield Barracks, Co. Limerick, under the command of Lieutenant Conor Marlow.

Lieutenant Ronan Downey from the 12 Infantry Battalion, Sarsfield Barracks, Co. Limerick was the flag officer.

Captain Tom Kelly conducted the No. 1 Army Band, which is based in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.