Our mission is to promote and protect abroad the values, interests and economic well-being of Ireland and its people. We do this under the political direction of our Ministers, through our staff at home and through our Embassy network abroad. Our work in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade focuses on serving the Irish public, both at home and abroad. We provide a range of services to Irish citizens and work hard to ensure the promotion and protection of Ireland’s interests in the world, contributing to international priorities such as peace, security and the eradication of poverty and hunger.
Charles Flanagan is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was appointed to this role on 11 July 2014, having previously served as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
He was first elected to represent Laois-Offaly (now the constituency of Laois) in Dáil Éireann in 1987 and was a member of Laois County Council from 1987 to 2004. His father, Oliver J. Flanagan TD, represented Laois-Offaly from 1943 to 1987.
He served as Chairperson of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party 2011-2014 and was the Fine Gael leader on the Constitutional Convention. He served as Fine Gael Chief Whip 2000-2002 and was the Party’s spokesperson in a diverse range of portfolios during his career as a TD including Health and Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
During the last Dáil he was Fine Gael Front Bench Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs (2010-2011) and Justice, Equality and Defence (2007-2010), playing a very active role in contributing to legislation and Fine Gael policy.