A FALCARRAGH man appointed as the Ambassador of Ireland to Indonesia has said he will use his role to encourage more Indonesian people to visit and study in Ireland.
HE Pádraig Francis was speaking at a special ceremony, where he presented his credentials to HE President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at Instana Merdeka in the country’s capital city of Jakarta.
Mr Francis, who was the formerly Director (European Unit Division) at headquarters, was formerly appointed Ambassador to Indonesia (and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday.
On the recommendation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney the government in March approved a number of Ambassadorial nominations, including that of Mr Francis. Mr Francis is the son of Tommy and Evie, and brother to Elizabeth, Sarah and Helen.
H.E. Ambassador Pádraig Francis arriving for the ceremony.
Wearing a face covering embellished with the Irish national flag, Mr Francis said he was delighted to take up his new role, and was excited about enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
“We are two countries far away from each other, yet I think we have much in common. I think the important thing is to increase people to people links between Ireland and Indonesia and in my time here I want to encourage more Indonesian people to visit Ireland, and, in particular, to study in Ireland because I think it is only when people live in each other’s countries and get to know each other that have true, friendly relations between states.”
Mr Francis said he was very much looking forward to travelling outside the capital city of Jakarta, as he has not been permitted to, due to current Covid-19 restrictions. Among a number of his previous roles, Mr Francis worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and he was also Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Ireland, Warsaw, from August 2013 to July 2017.
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