Senate Resolution No. 2386

BY: Senator FLANAGAN

COMMENDING Barbara Jones upon the occasion of her
appointment as Irish Ambassador to Mexico

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to certain individuals of high standard and professionalism
whose singular objective is given to serving the advancement of
democracy in the world; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Barbara Jones upon the occasion of her appointment as Irish
Ambassador to Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Recently, the United States Government has approved the
appointment of several overseas Ambassadors; Barbara Jones, the current
Consul General in New York, will assume the role of Irish Ambassador to
Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru and
Venezuela; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Jones was born in County Wexford, Ireland; she
graduated with degrees in both French and History from the University
College in Dublin, Ireland; she also holds her post graduate
qualifications in Education from University College, and Computer
Science from the National Institute of High Education from the
University of Limerick; and

WHEREAS, In September of 1983, Barbara Jones began her distinguished
career at the Department of Foreign Affairs, working primarily on
Anglo-Irish and European Union issues; and

WHEREAS, From 1994-1997, Barbara Jones served as Head of the
Humanitarian Aid policy; in this capacity, she traveled extensively in
Africa; her overseas postings included assignments at the Consulate
General of Ireland in San Francisco from 1986-1990, the Embassy at
Luxembourg from 1991-1993, and as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy
of Ireland in London where she managed political relations and the
Northern Ireland peace process; and

WHEREAS, In September of 2012, Barbara Jones was appointed Joint
Secretary at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast,
Ireland; two years later, she was named the Consul General of Ireland in
New York; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Jones also served in two additional government
departments in Dublin from 1997-2002; from 1999-2002, she served as both
Speech Writer and Special Advisor in the Department of the Taoiseach;
prior to holding those two positions, she was seconded to the Trade
Section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, where she
was instrumental in writing and developing a new long-term strategy for
promoting Irish trade with both China and Asia; and

WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Oliver O'Connor,
and their three children, Kilian, Tadhg, and Maeve, all of whom have
shown her love and support and rejoice in her many achievements; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Barbara Jones upon the occasion of her appointment as Irish
Ambassador to Mexico, and to wish her great success in her new position;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Barbara Jones.