Fed Event: Maryland Global Leaders Program Presents H. E. Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States | November 12

The School of Public Policy and University of Maryland Institute for International Programs present the first Maryland Global Leaders Program, featuring a conversation with H. E. Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States.

About the Speaker

Michael Collins became Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States on 18 September 2007 following presentation of his credentials to President Bush. He is the 16th person to occupy the post of Irish Ambassador to the US since 1924. Since his appointment, Ambassador Collins has travelled to all the major centres in the United States. With a particular focus on supporting Irish business and economic development, Ambassador Collins has also spoken extensively on contemporary Ireland and the Northern Ireland peace process. Ambassador Collins was named “Diplomat of the Year” by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in May 2008.

Prior to his Washington appointment, Ambassador Collins worked for six years, on secondment from the Department of Foreign Affairs, as Second Secretary-General at the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland). In that capacity he worked closely with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister Blair and the Northern Ireland political parties on the Northern Ireland peace process. Between 2001 and 2007 he was a participant at all the major peace process events that culminated with the 2006 St Andrews Agreement and the formation of the Northern Ireland Executive on 8 May 2007. He was also with the Taoiseach during his landmark address to the Parliament at Westminster in May of that year and, as Ambassador, when the Taoiseach addressed a Joint Meeting of the US Congress in May 2008.

During his time at the Department of the Taoiseach, Ambassador Collins was also responsible for European Union issues, including Ireland’s EU presidency in 2004 as well as all UN and international affairs. He was also a member of the Board of the Royal Irish Academy (International Affairs). He travelled extensively with the Taoiseach on all his official visits and most notably on the major trade promotion visits that the Taoiseach led to China (2005), India (2006) and the Gulf (2007).