MANCHESTER will be the location for a new Consulate General of Ireland due to be opened in England next year it was revealed this week.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney announced the plans this week following a virtual joint visit to Dublin by the mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region on Monday, November 16.
The new diplomatic mission, which will cover the North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, is expected to be in place in the first half of 2021.
“Moving ahead with plans for a new Consulate in the North of England is a really strong signal of Ireland’s commitment to the Irish-British relationship,” Mr Coveney said this week.
“When opened, this new Consulate General at the heart of the North of England will upgrade our capacity to advance our commercial interests and our cultural and people-to-people links,” he added.
“Enhancing our collaboration with regional and local government in Britain will be a big part of our work to deepen Irish-British links.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney made the announcement todayFollowing formal notification to the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) earlier this month, arrangements are now being made to establish the new diplomatic office.
When opened, the Consulate General will join a recently opened Enterprise Ireland office in Manchester – which was set up in 2019 to help Irish companies seek opportunities and partnerships across the North of England.
Reacting to the news of the new office, Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland warmly welcomes the announcement of a new Consulate General for the North of England.
“The North West of England is a very dynamic business environment. Reflective of this, in 2019, Enterprise Ireland opened a second office in the UK, based in Manchester, to develop and sustain Irish export growth to the UK.”
She added: “In the North West of England there are particularly strong opportunities in infrastructure, housing, clean energy and transport, healthcare and manufacturing.
“While Brexit introduces challenges and complexity to the market, the UK will continue to be an important and attractive market for Irish enterprise.
“We look forward to working with the Consulate General to strengthen Ireland’s presence in the region.”
The Manchester opening will bring the number of Irish diplomatic missions in Britain to four - standing alongside the Embassy of Ireland in London and the Consulates General in Edinburgh and Cardiff.
