Alison Kelly (diplomat)
| Alison Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Ireland's Ambassador to Israel | |
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In office November 6, 2015 – incumbent |
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| Preceded by | Eamonn McKee |
| Ireland's Ambassador to the Czech Republic | |
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In office 2012–2015 |
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| Ireland's Ambassador to the Ukraine | |
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In office 2012–2015 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1953 Drogheda, Ireland |
| Nationality | Ireland |
| Education | University College, Dublin |
Alison Kelly (born 1953) is an Irish diplomat, current serving as Ireland's Ambassador to Israel.
Kelly was born in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. In 1973 she graduated from University College, Dublin with a Bachelor of Social Science degree and in 1974 she graduated from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium with a Certificate in Advanced European Studies.
Kelly started her career in Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs in 1974. Early in her career she was stationed at The Hague (1976-9), Cairo (1983-6), CSCE/OSCE in Vienna as well as assignments in other locations. From 1998-2002 she served as UN Director, Department of Foreign Affairs concurrently with Africa Director 1999-2000. She served as Political Counsellor at Ireland’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. from 2003-2007. From 2007-11 she held roles as Deputy Political Director and Director for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the Department of Foreign Affairs. She held responsibility for the Diplomatic Conference in Dublin in 2008, which adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Kelly served as Ireland's chief delegate to the NPT review in 2010, and chaired the negotiations on the Middle East at the 2010 NPT Review Conference, garnering accolades from the Laura Kennedy, the U.S. Representative to the Conference, who noted Kelly had done a “remarkable job” dealing with very difficult issues in the section on the Middle East.
Kelly was Ambassador of Ireland to the Czech Republic and to Ukraine from 2012 until 2015. In February 2012 she presented credentials to President Václav Klaus, who was President of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013. She presented credentials in July 2012 to President Viktor Yanukovych of the Ukraine.
In November 2015 she became Ireland’s ambassador to Israel, replacing Eamonn McKee, who returned to Ireland in the summer of 2015 when he was appointed Director General of the Trade and Promotion Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Kelly presented her credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin noting, “My team and I will continue to work to strengthen and expand the cooperation between our countries, especially in the fields of technology and medical advances, among others. “ In welcoming her Rivlin said, "In many ways, Israel and Ireland are so similar. Ireland, like Israel, is a beautiful country, filled with a mix of tradition and faith. I want to express my high regard for the ongoing economic, cultural, and academic cooperation between our countries."
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