Irish Ambassador to the UK nominated for role as Ireland's permanent representative to the UN

Martin Fraser served as secretary general in the Department of the Taoiseach for 11 years under three different taoisigh until May 2022 and moved to London in August 2022. File photo: Photocall Ireland/GIS

The former Government secretary general has been nominated as Ireland’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

Martin Fraser, who is currently the Irish Ambassador to the UK, served as Sec. Gen. in the Department of the Taoiseach for 11 years under three different taoisigh until May 2022 and moved to London in August 2022.

He has been nominated to be the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. He will be replaced in the United Kingdom by Sonja Hyland, who is currently Deputy Secretary General, Ireland, UK, and Americas Division.

Ireland’s Ambassador to the US, Geraldine Byrne-Nason, will remain in her position.

Over a dozen Irish ambassador nominations were signed off by the Cabinet on Tuesday. The list sees changes to ambassadors, permanent representatives, or consular generals in 23 regions. This includes 18 ambassadorial appointments.

These appointments will take place during 2026, subject to agreement by the receiving States. There will be changes to Ireland’s ambassadors to Nigeria, Japan, Singapore, France, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and others.

The Irish Ambassador to Ukraine, Johnathan Conlon, has been nominated to become the ambassador to Poland.

Social housing

Elsewhere at Cabinet, the minister for h ousing James Browne got Government approval to amend legislation to allow for an appeals process on assessment decisions for social housing, which was previously agreed by Government in July.

The Bill will also introduce a “habitual residency’ requirement for social housing, supporting existing policy which defines social housing as a long-term housing support.

Successful applicants must demonstrate that they have a long-term right and intention to remain in the State. In July, Mr Browne denied that the move to limit access to social housing to non-habitual residents is an attempt to improve optics.

Those who are not habitually resident in Ireland, and who do not have the right to remain, will not be able to access homeless supports.