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New Irish ambassadors to the UN and UK

Martin Fraser will be the next ambassador to the United Nations in New York (File photo: RollingNews)
Martin Fraser will be the next ambassador to the United Nations in New York (File photo: RollingNews)

The current Irish ambassador to the UK, Martin Fraser has been nominated by the Government to be the next ambassador to the United Nations in New York.

Mr Fraser, a former Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach has represented Ireland in the UK since 2022.

News of the move came with the announcement of 14 ambassadorial nominations signed off by members of the Government at today's Cabinet meeting.

Other ambassadorial nominations are to countries in Africa, South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Replacing Mr Fraser as ambassador to the UK will be Sonja Hyland, currently Deputy Secretary General Ireland, UK and Americas Division.

Fergal Mythen who was in the UN will now become the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Geraldine Byrne Nason will remain as Irish ambassador to the US.

Ireland has a network of 103 diplomatic missions across the world, 25 of which were established since 2018.

This year new embassies were established in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova and new consulates general will open in Malaga and Melbourne in 2026.

Geraldine Byrne Nason will remain as Irish ambassador to the US

Tánaiste Simon Harris said the ambassadors will represent Ireland and support Irish citizens around the world.

"I know that those nominated as ambassadors will represent Ireland with great distinction as they work to support Irish citizens and to advance Ireland's interests and values around the world," he said.

"The Government will continue to strengthen Ireland’s global presence and influence, deepening and expanding our network, building new partnerships and amplifying our voice in the world."

The other ambassadorial nominations made are:

Ethiopia

Ciarán Madden, currently Director in Ireland, UK and Americas Division, to be Ambassador to Ethiopia

Nigeria

Lesley Ní Bhriain, currently Director in Corporate Services Division, to be Ambassador to Nigeria

Senegal

Deirdre Clancy, currently Deputy Head of Mission in the Embassy of Ireland to Morocco, to be Ambassador to Senegal

Argentina

Olive Hempenstall to be Ambassador to Argentina

Simon Harris outside Government Buildings
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the ambassadors will represent Ireland and support Irish citizens around the world

Japan

Noel White, currently Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, to be Ambassador to Japan

Republic of Korea

Seán Hoy, currently Director in Corporate Services Division, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Korea

Singapore

Damien Cole, currently Ambassador to Japan, to be Ambassador to Singapore

Thailand

Nora Delaney, currently Director in Citizen Services Division, to be Ambassador to Thailand

France

Alison Milton, currently Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, to be Ambassador to France

Holy See

Karen Lynch, currently Deputy Director in Citizen Services Division, to be Ambassador to the Holy See

Poland

Jonathan Conlon, currently Ambassador to Ukraine, to be Ambassador to Poland

Karen Lynch will be Ambassador to the Holy See

United Kingdom

Sonja Hyland, Deputy Secretary General, Ireland, UK and Americas Division, to be Ambassador to the United Kingdom

United Arab Emirates

Fergal Mythen, currently Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

Iran

Aidan Cronin, currently Director in Ireland, UK and Americas Division, to be Ambassador to Iran

Jordan

Nicole McHugh, currently Director in Development Cooperation and Africa Division, to be Ambassador to Jordan

Saudi Arabia

Micheál Smith, currently Consul General in San Francisco, to be Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Permanent Mission to the United Nations Geneva

Laurence Simms, currently Joint Secretary, British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat, to be Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva

Permanent Mission to the United Nations New York

Martin Fraser, currently Ambassador to the UK, to be Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York

Consul General appointments

John Forde, currently Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy to the United Arab Emirates, to be Consul General in Austin

Peter Neary, currently Deputy Director in Political Division, to be Consul General in Frankfurt

Paula Molloy, currently Deputy Director in Corporate Services Division, to be Consul General in Miami

Marianne Bolger, currently Ambassador to Jordan, to be Consul General in San Francisco

Gerry Kelly, currently Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy to the Russian Federation, to be Consul General in Vancouver