The 2025 Global Ireland Summit will take place in Dublin Castle today (Tuesday 6, May). Focusing on “Ireland’s Place in the World”, the Summit will be an expert-led discussion on how Ireland engages with the international community and global challenges at a time of geopolitical upheaval and change. It will bring together leaders from across Government, business and civil society, together with Ireland’s international diplomatic network and wider stakeholders from around the world.
This is the first Global Ireland Summit since the formation of the new Government earlier this year. Attendees will hear from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and other Government Ministers, including on international commitments in the new Programme for Government. These include the development of a new Global Ireland 2040 Strategy, new regional strategies and a new diaspora strategy.
Other speakers at the Summit will include Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency; Susan Davis, US Co-Chair of the Ad-hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement; Paul Sweetman, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland; athlete and author, Derval O’Rourke; and Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA. Andrii Sybiha, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, will address the Summit by video link.
Taoiseach Michael Martin will give a keynote address at the Summit. Speaking ahead of the event, the Taoiseach said:
“I am delighted to be participating in this Global Ireland Summit with so many key leaders in Ireland and internationally. In a rapidly changing and challenging global environment it is an important moment to discuss Ireland’s place in the world. The Global Ireland Strategy is all about a Team Ireland approach to Ireland’s international engagement, and I think the value of this approach is clearer now than ever before. I look forward to engaging with attendees on the significant progress made in increasing Ireland’s footprint and influence around the world. I believe that the Global Ireland Strategy 2025 has placed Ireland is a strong position to deal with a more turbulent world but we cannot rest on our laurels. I am therefore looking forward to hearing from stakeholders on how a successor Global Ireland Strategy, as committed to in the Programme for Government, could build on the substantial achievements of the current strategy.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris will also participate with a keynote address and fireside discussion. The Tánaiste said:
“The Global Ireland 2025 Strategy has undoubtedly ensured Ireland is more adaptable to change, more able to advance our values and interests, and more responsive to the needs of our citizens abroad, in what is a dynamic international environment. Recognising this, the Government is committed to developing a new successor strategy, Global Ireland 2040, which will provide an overarching framework to Ireland’s international engagement over the next 15 years.
The Global Ireland Summit is an opportune moment to think with ambition about how we further enhance Ireland’s place in the world, how we maximise our global footprint to promote our interests and values, and how we strengthen vital relationships with our partners worldwide. Turbulence in international trade also means we need to urgently consider opportunities to diversify into new markets. I look forward to participating in this Summit and to engaging with attendees on our vision for Ireland’s place in the world.”
The Summit launches a 4-day series of events, including the Department’s annual Heads of Mission conference on 7 and 8 May and concluding on 9 May with the Global Ireland Schools Programme in which Heads of Mission visit secondary schools across Ireland to discuss foreign affairs and their work overseas with students.
The full Summit programme is available on www.ireland.ie/en/global-
