Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has announced 25 new ambassadorial appointments including an upgrade of diplomatic posts in four African countries to full ambassador level and the first appointment of an Irish ambassador to Vietnam.
In the process he delivered a stinging rebuke to Ethiopia and Uganda, which have been left off the list of new ambassadorships because of reservations about the policies of their governments.
The African initiative reflects the increased significance of the Irish aid programme on that continent, following a major increase in Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA) to €730 million this year, or 0.5 per cent of Gross National Product, with a view to meeting the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of GNP as aid to developing countries by 2012.
The four upgraded positions in Africa are Frank Sheridan as Ambassador to Mozambique; John McCullagh as Ambassador to Tanzania; Bill Nolan as Ambassador to Zambia (all upgrades from charge d'affaires); and Paddy Fay as Ambassador to Lesotho (upgrade from consul general). Colin Wrafter, currently serving at Ireland's UN mission in New York, becomes Ambassador to South Africa, succeeding Gerry Corr who becomes Ambassador to Egypt.
One of Ireland's most experienced diplomats and a key figure in the peace process in Northern Ireland, Seán Ó hUiginn, moves from Berlin to Rome, while current Ambassador to Italy Frank Cogan moves to Vienna. Ambassador to Austria David Donoghue replaces Mr Ó hUigínn in Berlin.
Ireland's representative at the Political and Security Committee (PSC) in Brussels, Paul Kavanagh, becomes Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, and is replaced as PSC Ambassador by Marie Cross.
Philomena Murnaghan moves from headquarters at Iveagh House to Buenos Aires, as Ambassador. Ireland's envoy to Brazil, Martin Greene, moves to Budapest, and is succeeded by Michael Hoey, currently Ambassador to Luxembourg. Joe Hayes moves from the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh to Copenhagen. He will be replaced on the joint secretariat in Armagh by Tom Hanney. Meanwhile, Ambassador to Denmark Jim Brennan moves to Lisbon.
John Deady moves from the UN desk at headquarters to the Ambassador's post in Tehran, and Brendan Lyons takes over a new position as Ambassador to Vietnam, with accreditation also to Cambodia and Laos.
Máirtín Ó Fainnín moves from Buenos Aires to become Ambassador to Australia, replacing Declan Kelly who becomes Ambassador to Canada. Dick O'Brien, currently Ambassador to Egypt, moves to Singapore.
The new Ambassador to Cyprus is Tom Brady, while Kate Slattery becomes Ambassador to the OECD in Paris.