Ambassador of Ireland to France

Dear friends,

A cháirde,

Chères amies, chers amis,

On behalf of all of us at the Embassy of Ireland in France, welcome to our website. My name is Alison Milton, and I am honoured to serve as Ireland’s Ambassador to France and Monaco.

Ireland and France share a long-standing and close relationship, shaped by deep historical ties, strong economic partnership, and vibrant cultural exchange. Every year, close to half a million Irish people come to France to study, travel, and do business, while more than 10,000 Irish citizens have made their home here.

This is an exciting moment for Franco-Irish relations as Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. Ireland and France are united by shared values with a strong commitment to equality, democracy, and human rights.

France is one of Ireland’s most important economic partners and our principal gateway to the single market. Bilateral trade reached €47 billion in 2024, reflecting the strength of our relationship and the scope for continued growth and cooperation.

But the relationship between Ireland and France extends well beyond politics and trade. Our countries have long inspired one another through literature, the arts, education, and ideas. Today, vibrant cultural and people-to-people exchanges continue to deepen the connection between our nations.

While our Embassy is based in Paris, our presence extends across France through our Consulate General in Lyon and our Honorary Consulates in Cherbourg, Roscoff, and Toulouse, supporting Irish citizens and strengthening local links.

I hope you will find our website useful and informative. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X and Instagram for updates, events, and news.

Yours sincerely,

Alison Milton

Ambassador

Alison Milton is an Irish diplomat with over thirty years of diplomatic experience in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Ireland. She has served as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, and previously also served as Ambassador to Colombia, Venezuela and Panama.

She has held several multilateral posts, including that of Permanent Representative of Ireland to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, and previously, Chair of the Advisory Group of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

She has specialised in management, finance, development studies, humanitarian and human rights issues, and has previously worked through a number of European languages. She joined the Irish diplomatic service in December 2002, having previously worked in Latin America, Africa and Ireland in development and humanitarian work. Before joining the Foreign Service, she also graduated with a Masters in Development and a Bachelors of Commerce, both with first-class honours. She is married with three young adult children and enjoys outdoor activities, yoga and exploring new places.