List of ambassadors of Australia to Ireland explained

Post:Ambassador of Australia to Ireland
Insignia:Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Department:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Incumbent:Gary Gray
Incumbentsince:August 2020
Residence:Abbey Lea, Killiney
Seat:Embassy of Australia, Dublin
Nominator:Prime Minister of Australia
Style:His Excellency
Appointer:Governor-General of Australia
Reports To:Minister for Foreign Affairs
Formation:4 December 1946
Inaugural:William Dignam (High Commissioner)
Website:Australian Embassy, Ireland

The Ambassador of Australia to Ireland is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to Ireland in Dublin. Prior to the establishment of a resident embassy in Rome in 2008, on occasions the position has also had non-resident accreditation as Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See.

On 26 June 2020, the Australian Government announced the appointment of former Australian politician Gary Gray as Australia's ambassador to Ireland. Gray took up his office in August 2020 and presented his credentials to the President of Ireland on 25 September 2020.[1]

Posting history

Formal diplomatic relations between Ireland and Australia were first established in 1945 by Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and Prime Minister Ben Chifley, with an agreement to exchange representatives. Ireland sent Thomas J. Kiernan as its first envoy to Australia on 15 October 1946, and on 9 April 1946 Australia announced the appointment of barrister William Dignam as High Commissioner in Dublin, who took up his appointment from 4 December 1946.[2]

However, given Ireland's ambiguous status within the British Commonwealth after 1945, the title of the diplomatic postings and any letters of credence remained similarly ambiguous. In July 1945, when asked about whether he would make Ireland a republic, de Valera replied that "we are a republic",[3] and the Irish government announced its unease with any wording that emphasised its connection with the Commonwealth. Therefore, although Keirnan was officially appointed to Australia as a "High Commissioner" (the standard title for representatives between members of the Commonwealth), De Valera signed the letters of credence to the Australian Governor-General with Keirnan's title as the "Minister Plenipotentiary Representative of Ireland to Australia".[4] Keirnan's status was accepted and embraced by the Labor Party government in Canberra at the time, with the Minister for External Affairs, H. V. Evatt, having a good relationship with Keirnan.[4] De Valera later accepted a compromise for the appointment of Dignam with credentials appointing him as the "Representative of Australia" and "Australian High Commissioner".[4] Dignam arrived in Ireland in December 1946 and established the Australian High Commission at 62 Merrion Square in Dublin.[5]

However, despite a promising early start to the relationship, issues arose once the Irish Government passed The Republic of Ireland Act 1948, which came into effect from 18 April 1949, and finally severed any last links between Ireland, the British monarchy, and the Commonwealth. With the replacement of Chifley's government with the conservative Liberal-Country Coalition government of Robert Menzies in December 1949, Dignam was soon recalled from Dublin in April 1950, and in September 1950 the two governments agreed to upgrade the two posts to the status of embassy.[6] However, the new government nevertheless conveyed a greater degree of reluctance go any further, with new external affairs minister, Percy Spender, only agreeing to the appointment of a Chargé d'affaires (which did not require the exchange of official credentials) instead of an ambassador, with William Wynes taking up the appointment.[7] [4]

In April 1953, Minister for External Affairs Richard Casey announced the appointment of Paul McGuire as the first Australian Ambassador to Ireland, saying that the Department of External Affairs was "inadequate in sufficiently senior and experienced career personnel to fill all the Australian posts abroad," and that it was necessary to draw on experienced people from outside the department to fill some overseas posts.[8] However, McGuire did not formally take up his post due to a protracted dispute between the Australian and Irish governments about the style of his credentials, with the Australian Government of the view that the term "Ireland" or "Republic of Ireland" ignored the status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom and implied a recognition of a united Ireland, and thus wanting for McGuire's title to be an "Ambassador to the Irish Republic" or "to Dublin", while the Irish Government wanted his title to be ambassador "to Ireland" or "to the President of the Republic of Ireland".[9] No agreement was secured between the two governments.[10] [11] [12] With the Australian Government of the view that the "cost of the post has not been warranted because of the small amount of diplomatic activity between Canberra and Dublin", Australia cancelled McGuire's appointment (he would later be appointed to Italy) and continued with the status quo of having a chargé d'affaires, with the Irish Government reciprocating in 1956 by withdrawing the designated ambassador since 1955, Brian Gallagher, and only appointing a resident chargé in Canberra.[4] [13] [14] [15]

The dispute was not resolved until 1964, when the two governments reached an agreement, with the Irish chargé, Dr Eoin MacWhite, appointed "Ambassador of Ireland to the Commonwealth of Australia" on 15 May 1964.[16] [17] [18] This was followed by the Australian external affairs minister, Paul Hasluck, announcing the appointment of Hugh Roberton as the "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for the Commonwealth of Australia", on 11 January 1965.[19] [20] Roberton presented his credentials to now-president De Valera in Dublin on 17 May 1965.[4]

Since that time, the posting has reflected the growth in relations between Ireland and Australia, facilitating several state visits to Ireland, including Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1974,[21] [22] Governor-General Sir William Deane in 1999, and Prime Ministers Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard, who addressed the Dáil Éireann in 1987,[23] [24] 1993,[25] [26] [27] and 2006, respectively.[28] [29]

The position has regularly been filled in the past by former politicians (including Gary Gray, John Herron, Brian Burke, Bob Halverson and Vince Gair). Brian Burke resigned from office in July 1991 following allegations of official corruption and the commencement of the WA Inc royal commission relating to his time as premier of Western Australia.

The 'Gair Affair'

See main article: Gair Affair.

On 1 April 1974, Democratic Labor Party (DLP) Senator and former Labor Party premier of Queensland, Vince Gair, was appointed ambassador by the Labor Party Government of Gough Whitlam, ostensibly in order improve the government's chances of winning an additional Queensland seat in the Senate at the following election. However, when Gair delayed his formal resignation, and the conservative Queensland Government confounded this scheme by issuing writs for five rather than six Senate places, the situation (known as the "Gair Affair") resulted in the opposition and the DLP trying to block supply. Whitlam responded to this by obtaining a double dissolution election in May 1974, which saw the government returned and the defeat of all DLP senators.[30] Gair's term as ambassador proved to be short lived and just as tumultuous, with Gair being described as "not suited to diplomacy. He refused his officials' advice, antagonised the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and his fellow heads of mission, [and] his inappropriate behaviour also led to the resignation of some female members of staff".[30] Gair was never well-liked by the opposition Liberal-County Coalition, having been outspoken in his criticisms on domestic politics and the Liberal opposition, and when Whitlam's government was replaced by the Liberal Opposition in November 1975, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser advised Gair that his appointment had been terminated and announced his recall on 21 January 1976.[31]

List of heads of mission

Officeholder Title Other offices Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
William John DignamHigh CommissionerN/A[32]
–William Anstey Wynes Chargé d'affaires [33] [34] [35]
–[36]
–William Torrance Doig [37]
Credentials for not offered/received due to title dispute (24 April 1953 – 14 January 1954)[38] [39] [40] [41] [42]
–Stewart Jamieson Chargé d'affairesN/A [43] [44]
–[45]
–June Hyett Barnett [46]
–H. Douglas White [47] [48]
–Richard H. Gilman [49]
–Ivor Gordon Bowden [50]
Ambassador[51] [52]
–K. I. Gates Chargé d'affaires [53]
Ambassador[54]
[55]
[56] [57]
[58]
[59]
[60]
[61]
Frank Milne N/A[62] [63]
[64] [65] [66]
Terence Barry McCarthy[67]
Edward John Stevens[68]
[69] [70]
[71] [72]
[73] [74]
Bruce Davis N/A[75] [76]
[77] [78]
Richard Andrews[79] [80]
–Robert Owen-Jones Chargé d'affaires [81]
AmbassadorIncumbent [82] [83]

Notes

Also non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Holy See.

In April 1991, Burke resigned as ambassador with effect from 31 July 1991 in order to face a royal commission and was eventually jailed.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Office of the President of Ireland. Diary Ambassadors Present Their Credentials 25 September 2020. 2020-11-22. president.ie. en.
  2. News: New Diplomatic Posts Abroad . . Victoria, Australia . 9 April 1946 . 25 June 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  3. "Seanad Éireann - Volume 30 - 19 July, 1945" Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved on 14 March 2007.
  4. Book: Lorna Lloyd . A Conflict over Credentials: Ireland-Australia 1953-1964 . Fleming . N. C. . Murphy . James H. . Ireland and Partition: Contexts and Consequences . 2021 . Clemson University Press . 49–74.
  5. News: An Australian In Merrion Square . . New South Wales, Australia . 8 May 1947 . 25 June 2022 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: DR. T. J. KIERNAN NOW AMBASSADOR . . South Australia . 29 September 1950 . 25 June 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Australia, Eire to have embassies . News . South Australia . 13 September 1950 . 25 June 2022 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Mr. P. McGuire Ambassador to Ireland. 25 April 1953. The Canberra Times. ACT. 1.
  9. News: Italy likely for McGuire. 26 February 1954. 1. The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Queensland.
  10. News: Rome job for McGuire. 16 March 1954. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. NSW. 1.
  11. News: Unable accept Irish viewpoint. 18 January 1954. 1. Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, QLD.
  12. News: Irish question rears its head . The Daily News . Western Australia . 11 June 1955 . 25 June 2022 . 20 (SPORTS) . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: NEW IRISH AMBASSADOR APPOINTED . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 30 March 1955 . 25 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: But not Forde . . Queensland, Australia . 18 March 1953 . 25 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: No envoy to Ireland . The Courier-mail . Queensland, Australia . 15 January 1954 . 25 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: The Irish Ambassador . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 5 May 1964 . 25 June 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Cordial Wishes From Ireland . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 16 May 1964 . 25 June 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  18. Irish Ambassador in Canberra. Paul. Hasluck. Australian Government. 4 May 1964.
  19. News: Ireland hails appointment of Ambassador . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 14 January 1965 . 25 June 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: Mr. Roberton ambassador to Ireland . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 11 January 1965 . 25 June 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: Irish visit 'partly fence-mending' . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 23 December 1974 . 27 June 2022 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  22. News: Whitlam aims at goodwill to Irish . Papua New Guinea Post-courier. Papua New Guinea . 23 December 1974 . 27 June 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  23. News: A visit to Ireland for Hawke . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 9 September 1987 . 27 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  24. News: Hawke receives a standing ovation . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 22 October 1987 . 27 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: Republic another frontier: Keating . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 21 September 1993 . 27 June 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  26. News: Irish eyes smile at local descendant made good . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 22 September 1993 . 27 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  27. News: Keating visits family plot, then off to French war graves . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 23 September 1993 . 27 June 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  28. News: Australian premier pays tribute to Irish influence . 27 June 2022 . . 22 May 2006.
  29. Web site: Ireland - Australia: 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations . Consulate General of Ireland Sydney . Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland) . 25 June 2022.
  30. Web site: Costar . B. J. . Gair, Vincent Clare (Vince) (1901–1980) . Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . 25 June 2022 . 1996.
  31. News: Gair's post as ambassador terminated . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 28 January 1976 . 25 June 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  32. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . May 1950 . 21 . 5 . 360 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  33. Establishment of Australian Embassy in Dublin: Statement by the Prime Minister and Acting Minister for External Affairs, the Rt. Hon. R. G. Menzies, K.C., M.P., 13th September, 1950. . Current Notes on International Affairs . September 1950 . 21 . 9 . 655 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  34. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . September 1950 . 21 . 9 . 674 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  35. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . April 1952 . 23 . 4 . 203 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  36. List of Permanent Missions Overseas - Ireland . Current Notes on International Affairs . May 1952 . 23 . 5 . 215 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  37. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . January 1953 . 24 . 1 . 42 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  38. Ambassador to Ireland: Statement by the Minister for External Affairs, the Rt. Hon. R. G. Casey, 24th April, 1953. Current Notes on International Affairs . April 1953 . 24 . 4 . 241 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  39. News: Ambassador to Ireland. 25 April 1953. Illawarra Daily Mercury. 1.
  40. News: D. P. McGUIRE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO IRELAND . . New South Wales, Australia . 25 April 1953 . 25 June 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  41. News: Australia Cancels Appointment Of Embassy To Ireland . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 15 January 1954 . 25 June 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  42. Australian Representation at Dublin: Statement by the Minister for External Affairs, the Rt. Hon. R. G. Casey, 17th January, 1954.. Current Notes on International Affairs . 31 January 1954 . 25 . 1 . 61–63 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  43. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . May 1956 . 27 . 5 . 335 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  44. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . January 1958 . 29 . 1 . 68 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  45. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . February 1958 . 29 . 2 . 128 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  46. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . March 1961 . 32 . 3 . 69 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  47. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . April 1961 . 32 . 4 . 69 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  48. News: Diplomat for Nigeria . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 19 September 1967 . 25 June 2022 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  49. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . July 1963 . 33 . 7 . 75 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  50. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . February 1965 . 36 . 2 . 107 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  51. News: Ireland hails appointment of Ambassador. 14 January 1965. 4. The Canberra Times.
  52. Australian Ambassador to Ireland. Paul. Hasluck. Australian Government. 11 January 1965.
  53. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . April 1968 . 39 . 4 . 161 . 25 June 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  54. Australian Ambassador to Ireland. Paul. Hasluck. Australian Government. 21 July 1968.
  55. Australian Ambassador to Ireland. Nigel. Bowen. Australian Government. 9 September 1971.
  56. News: Return to politics possible . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 13 March 1976 . 25 June 2022 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  57. News: Date set for Gair . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 21 February 1976 . 25 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  58. Appointment of Ambassador to Ireland. Ian. Sinclair. Australian Government. 12 March 1976.
  59. Ambassador to Ireland. Ian. Sinclair. Australian Government. 9 June 1978.
  60. Ambassador to Ireland. Tony. Street. Australian Government. 24 July 1981.
  61. Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See. Lionel. Bowen. Australian Government. 10 May 1983.
  62. News: This time, Dublin may be lucky. 11. The Sydney Morning Herald. Paul. McGeough. Paul McGeough. 23 December 1987.
  63. Diplomatic Appointment: Ireland. Bill. Hayden. Australian Government. 27 October 1986.
  64. Ambassador to Ireland. Bill. Hayden. Australian Government. 22 December 1987.
  65. Ambassador Burke. Gareth. Evans. Australian Government. 12 April 1991.
  66. Mr Brian Burke . Gareth. Evans. Australian Government. 29 April 1991.
  67. Diplomatic Appointment - Ireland and the Holy See. Gareth. Evans. Australian Government. 5 July 1991.
  68. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Ireland. Gareth. Evans. Australian Government. 6 November 1994.
  69. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Ireland. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212024734/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1998/fa118b_98.html. 12 February 2014. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 29 August 1998.
  70. Web site: The Hon. Bob Halverson OBE - Ambassador to Ireland . Australian Heads of Mission . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021202231113/http://www.dfat.gov.au/homs/ie.html . 2 December 2002.
  71. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Ireland. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212020654/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2002/fa127_02.html. 12 February 2014. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 5 September 2002.
  72. Web site: The Hon. Dr John Herron - Ambassador to Ireland . Australian Heads of Mission . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050905235230/http://www.dfat.gov.au:80/homs/ie.html . 5 September 2005.
  73. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Ireland. https://web.archive.org/web/20150413093616/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa008_06.html. 13 April 2015. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 16 January 2006.
  74. Web site: Ms Anne Plunkett - Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See . Australian Heads of Mission . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080809121658/https://www.dfat.gov.au/homs/ie.html . 9 August 2008.
  75. Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Ireland. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403201420/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2009/fa-s091120a.html. 3 April 2015. 20 November 2009. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician). Australian Government.
  76. Web site: Mr Bruce Davis - Ambassador to Ireland . Australian Heads of Mission . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100809060502/http://www.dfat.gov.au:80/homs/ie.html . 9 August 2010.
  77. Ambassador to Ireland. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403143314/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2012/bc_mr_120907.html. 3 April 2015. Bob. Carr. Bob Carr. 7 September 2012. Australian Government.
  78. Web site: Ambassador to Ireland - Dr Ruth Adler . Australian Ambassadors and other representatives . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160805195636/http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-people/homs/Pages/ambassador-to-ireland.aspx . 5 August 2016.
  79. Ambassador to Ireland. Julie. Bishop. Julie Bishop. 1 August 2016. Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817145841/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2016/jb_mr_160801a.aspx. 17 August 2016.
  80. Web site: Ambassador to Ireland - Richard Andrews . Australian Ambassadors and other representatives . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170613141521/http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-people/homs/Pages/ambassador-to-ireland.aspx . 13 June 2017.
  81. Web site: About the Australian Embassy in Ireland - Head of Mission . Australian Embassy Ireland . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 25 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200307212750/https://ireland.embassy.gov.au/dubl/aboutus.html . 7 March 2020.
  82. Ambassador to Ireland. Marise. Payne. Marise Payne. 26 June 2020. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20200626120641/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/ambassador-ireland. 26 June 2020.
  83. Web site: Ambassador to Ireland - The Hon Gary Gray AO . Australian Ambassadors and other representatives . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030124019/https://www.dfat.gov.au/ambassador-ireland . 30 October 2020.

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