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 Iveagh House, Dublin | |
| Department overview | |
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| Formed | 22 January 1919 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Ireland |
| Headquarters | Iveagh House, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 53°20′12″N6°15′34″W / 53.33667°N 6.25944°W /53.33667; -6.25944 |
| Annual budget | €1.108 billion (2022–2023)[1] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Department executive |
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| Child Department | |
| Website | Official website |
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Administrative geography | ||||||||
TheDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) (Irish:An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála) is adepartment of theGovernment of Ireland that is responsible for promoting the interests of Ireland in theEuropean Union and the wider world. The head of the department is theMinister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The official headquarters and ministerial offices of the department are inIveagh House,St Stephen's Green, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following:
The Department of Foreign Affairs was created on 22 January 1919, the second day of meeting ofDáil Éireann.[2] By August 1921 there were eight 'official' missions abroad: France, Italy, USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Argentina and Chile.[3] No other Commonwealth country (other than the UK) had independent representation in Washington.[4]
| Date | Effect |
|---|---|
| 2 June 1924 | Establishment of theDepartment of External Affairs[5] |
| 3 March 1971 | Renamed as theDepartment of Foreign Affairs[6] |
| 1 June 2011 | Transfer ofTrade from theDepartment of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation[7] |
| 2 June 2011 | Renamed as theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade[8] |
| 23 September 2020 | Transfer ofTrade to theDepartment of Business, Enterprise and Innovation[9] |
| 24 September 2020 | Renamed as theDepartment of Foreign Affairs[10] |
| 26 March 2025 | Renamed as theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade[11] |
The department has the following divisions:
The minister has responsibility for the relations between Ireland and foreign states. The department defines its role as: "The Department of Foreign Affairs advises the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Ministers of State and the Government on all aspects of foreign policy and coordinates Ireland's response to international developments.
It also provides advice and support on all issues relevant to the pursuit of peace, partnership and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and between North and South of the island, and to deepening Ireland's relationship with Britain."[12]
The mission of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to advance Ireland's political and economic interests in theEuropean Union and in the wider world, to promote Ireland's contribution to international peace, security and development, both through the European Union and through active participation in international organisations such as the United Nations. The department is divided into divisions and units:[13]
In 2016, the Department of Foreign Affairs had 1,470 employees, 320 of which were posted overseas.[14]
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The Irish Abroad Unit is a unit coordinates the provision of services to Irishemigrants across the globe and administers financial support to organizations in thevoluntary sector engaged in the delivery of services to Irish emigrants.[15] It is part of the Citizen Services Division. It was established in 2004 following an announcement by theMinister of Foreign Affairs,Brian Cowen.
Grants are extended to groups in the voluntary sector who provide advice and support to Irish people abroad, particularly those that help migrants access their rights and entitlements in their host countries. Priority is given to organizations that support the most vulnerable and marginalized, such as the older Irish community inGreat Britain and undocumented Irish in theUnited States. Smaller grants have also been allocated to Irish groups inAustralia,Canada,Argentina,South Africa,Zimbabwe,New Zealand,Singapore,France andMexico as well as to organizations in Ireland who provide pre-departure information and also advice to those emigrants who may be considering returning to Ireland. In 2007, the Irish Abroad Unit awarded grants of €14.165 million to organizations in eleven countries.
Following increases in funding, the program has expanded to include capital projects, as well as culture and heritage projects that support community networks and build on the interest of citizens abroad in their Irish heritage.
In general, recipients of emigrant services funding are Irish community organizations who have a functioning board of management, show clear objectives and have an accounting framework in place. The payment of grants to individual Irish citizens resident abroad is beyond the remit of the Irish Abroad Unit.
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| National | |
