Embassy of Ireland in France Newsletter September - December 2014

Dear friends, Chers amis,

As we were about to send this newsletter in early January, Paris underwent a series of brutal terrorist attacks that resulted in very serious and sad loss of life. The events and their aftermath fundamentally changed how we all began 2015, and we have waited to send this newsletter until now out of respect for those who died and in solidarity with the French people.

I am now happy to be in a position to send to you my first newsletter as Ireland’s recently appointed Ambassador to France. Since my arrival at the end of August, I have had occasion to meet many of you, including friends from my last posting in Paris in the 1990s when I was an OECD Staff member. I am a career diplomat originally from Drogheda, and proud to be a graduate of Maynooth University. I am also a wife to Brian Nason and we are joined in Paris by our fourteen year old son, Alex . I have served in diplomatic postings in the United States and in Europe, most recently in Brussels, before serving as a Secretary General for three years in the Department of the Taoiseach. On 31 October, I had the great honour to present my credentials to President Hollande.

My first rentrée as Ambassador has certainly been a busy one, settling into the full range of the work of the Embassy, and advancing Ireland’s interests in France together with Team Ireland. In passing, I note that the leaders of Team Ireland are all female!

While I have spent many years negotiating in the corridors of Brussels, often through long nights, this rentrée saw me turn to an exciting range of more hands-on business and trade related tasks that ranged from promoting the Irish thoroughbred industry with the horse racing highlight of the Grand Prix de l'Arc, to the food industry focus at the Trophée Passion culinary competition with young Irish chefs competing and Irish beef on the menu ! The last three months of 2014 have been dedicated to seeking out opportunities to promote jobs and growth in Ireland, and to building our interests through top class contacts and events. I hope that this newsletter will give you a flavour of some of our work since the autumn.

We have had four successful high level visits by Irish Ministers. The Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin, met with his counterparts Finance Minister Michel Sapin and Budget Minister Christian Eckert in September to discuss management of public sector expenditure and reform. Next up was Minister Simon Coveney to present the Origin Green initiative at SIAL, one of the largest global food trade events. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Alex White, attended a European Commission Ocean Energy Forum in Paris in November. This forum will take place in Dublin in 2015. Undoubtedly, one to watch as marine energy will be a key sector for closer cooperation between Ireland and France in the future. Finally, in December, the new Minister for the Diaspora, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, met with Network Irlande and Irish language group, Gaeltacht sur Seine. He also had meetings with French Senator and longtime friend of Ireland, Ms Hélène Conway-Mouret during his visit. Visits by Ministers from Ireland are invaluable opportunities for the Embassy to further its engagement at high levels within business and political circles. We look forward to hosting many more political visits in 2015.

As ever, the business of the Embassy is business. I was delighted to host a number of economic events in partnership with the State Agencies. One event, for example, highlighted Ireland’s expertise in the area of medical technology. I was also particularly pleased to host a networking event for the equine industry in advance of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Trimophe. Owners, trainers, breeders and companies from the equine sectors in Ireland and France came together to build relationships and, of course, exchange tips!

Promotion of Ireland’s economic interests is not just confined to Paris. I am keen to make regular visits to the many thriving regional hubs in France. My first such visit was an Enterprise Ireland business development mission to Lille which focused on the retail industry, in particular innovation in digital retail and e-commerce. I am looking forward to travelling to Lyon later in January for a trade promotion visit in the food sector and to attend the final round of the well-known Bocuse d'Or competition. And I have been to the Haute Savoie, supporting the Irish film industry in a region which is of increasing business interest to Ireland and with real potential for closer partnership.

Finally, in this centenary year, on 11 November, I had the privilege of attending a very moving ceremony at Athis Mons, near Paris, in memory of Private Stephen Kennedy from Ballina, the first Irish soldier killed in World War I. It was a poignant reminder of the great sacrifices of so many Irish soldiers who died on French soil and who we will continue to honour and remember particularly in the coming years. I was also very proud to unveil a plaque in the Irish Cultural Centre in October to commemorate the brave contribution of Irish men and women to the French resistance movement. Events such as these bring home to us the strength of the ties between our two countries, built on the solidarity of previous generations.

Since my arrival, I have met many wonderful Irish people and friends of Ireland who contribute so much to the dynamism and warmth of the relations between our two countries. I look forward to a fascinating time ahead as Ambassador and to hearing your suggestions for new and innovative ways of strengthening relations between Ireland and France.

With very best wishes for happy and successful New Year,
Avec mes meilleurs vœux pour cette nouvelle année,

Geraldine Byrne Nason

Ambassador