International offices: guide

Dublin

Our Dublin office was established in early 2016 and is based within the British Embassy building. It provides dedicated support for building on the existing links between Ireland and Scotland. The Dublin team is comprised of a Scottish Government Head of Office, a Deputy Head, Cultural Diplomacy lead, and two Scottish Development International trade specialists.

The work of the Dublin office includes:

• supporting Scottish Ministers
• sustaining a programme of cultural cooperation
• promoting trade and investment links
• strengthening government-to-government relations
• collaborating on economic, academic and innovation projects

Our office works across a range of sectors that include:

• financial services
• creative arts
• culture and heritage
• higher education
• renewable energy and energy efficiency

We work to ensure that our policy and positions on important matters such as the UK’s departure from the European Union are continually understood in Ireland.  We also continue to report back on issues significant to the Irish Government, its economy and its citizens.

Find out more about the Scottish-Irish bilateral review that is currently underway.

Strategic objectives

Priorities for 2023 to 2024

Building and strengthening relationships:

• Continue to identify priority areas for shared learning and policy knowledge exchange, with a focus on Net Zero, Social Justice, Health Care, Diaspora Engagement and the Wellbeing Economy.
• Support Ministerial  bilateralism.
• Expand and diversify our GlobalScot network, particularly outside Dublin.
• Promote Scotland’s reputation and stay connected with Scottish groups based in Ireland, particularly through our Burns Night and St Andrews’s Day events.
• Facilitate engagement between Irish universities and researchers with counterparts in Scotland
• Co-develop programmes which support student mobility between Scotland and Ireland.
• Expand our networks outside of Dublin through regional visits.
• Cement Scotland's reputation as a culturally diverse nation following our successful collaborations with the Museum of Literature Ireland, Scottish Poetry, Poetry Ireland, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Dublin International Film Festival and others.
• Assist in showcasing Scottish talent/artists etc in Ireland.
• Promote significant cultural events being held in Scotland such as UCI Cycling World Championships, Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, etc.

Contributing to Scotland's trade and investment objectives:

• Protect and promote trade across key sectors including life sciences and digital health, financial technology, property technology, sports technology, education technology, and renewables.
• Work to secure inward investment, job creation and other benefits to Scotland in line with the Inward Investment Plan.
• Support the Causeway Business Network to grow their footprint in Ireland and to become self-sustainable.

Contributing to Scotland's climate change, biodiversity and renewable energy objectives:

• As above, support Government to Government collaboration and engagement on the transition to net zero, especially policy concerning renewable energy and the Just Transition.
• Engage with and promote the findings from collaborative research delivered through the Royal Society Edinburgh and Royal Irish Academy Bilateral Network Grants which this year have a focus on rural issues.
• Continue to expand our business networks, with a particular focus on the renewable energy sector in support of business collaboration between Scotland and Ireland.

See previous strategic objectives in our website archive.

Contact

Head of Dublin Office: Katy McNeil 

Email: dublinhub@gov.scot

Twitter/X: @ScotGovIreland

Telephone (Reception): +353 (0) 1205 3794

Post:

Scottish Government Dublin Office
British Embassy
29 Merrion Road
Dublin
D04 P272