History of the Permanent Mission
Find out more about former Ambassadors and notable moments in the mission’s history
Our team at the Mission in Vienna
Ireland established a Permanent Mission to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) in Vienna in 1993. Following the Budapest Summit in 1994, the conference became the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The first resident Ambassador to the OSCE arrived in 1998.
List of Former Ambassadors
The current Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OSCE is Ambassador Brian Flynn, who presented his credentials in August 2025
2021 – 2025: Anne-Marie Callan
2017 – 2021: Kevin Dowling
2013 – 2017: Philip McDonagh
2007 – 2013: Eoin O’Leary
2002 – 2007: Brendan Moran
1998 – 2002: Brendan McMahon
1993 – 1998: Justin Hartman (Head of the Delegation to the CSCE)
Notable Moments
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2026
During Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Permanent Mission coordinates EU statements, political dialogue, representation at key OSCE bodies, and Member States’ budgetary positions.
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2023-2024
Ireland chaired the Human Dimension Committee, convening monthly meetings on human rights, rule of law, elections, democracy, media freedom, minorities, and non-discrimination.
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2012
Ireland assumed the OSCE Chairmanship, led by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, strengthening security and securing agreements on the Helsinki+40 process, Transnistrian settlement, good governance, and transnational threats.
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2010
From September to December, Ireland chaired the Forum for Security Cooperation, leading dialogue on gender and security, contributing to the Astana Summit, and working on the 2011 modernisation of the Vienna Document.