THREE WOMEN ambassadors are among 12 new senior appointments in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, a new director-general has been appointed to Irish Aid, the Third World development division of the department, and a new representative has been assigned to Ramallah in the Palestinian Territories.
The new women ambassadors are: Geraldine Byrne Nason as deputy permanent representative in Brussels; Síle Maguire as Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union; and Kay Coll to Slovakia.
Brendan Rogers will head up Irish Aid, succeeding Ronan Murphy, while Michael Gaffeybecomes deputy director of the aid body.
Colm Ó Floinn will be the next joint secretary in Belfast, replacing Gary Ansbro who is becoming Ambassador to Norway.
Meanwhile, the chargé d'affaires in Uganda is being upgraded to ambassador level. Kevin Kelly, currently chargé d'affaires in Kampala, is being appointed ambassador to Uganda and Rwanda.
Jim Carroll (currently in the Irish abroad unit ) is to become the Irish representative to the Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah
Other ambassadorial appointments include John Morahan (currently in corporate services) who is being appointed to Romania.
Ken Thompson (currently deputy permanent representative to the EU in Brussels) is being appointed to India.
Meanwhile, Tom Bolster (currently deputy chief of protocol) moves to Estonia.