Robert Hull, Consul General of Ireland

Consul General Robert Hull

Consul General Robert Hull was appointed as the Consul General of Ireland to Texas and thesouthern central United States in January 2022.

The Consul General represents the Government of Ireland in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Robert joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2008 and has served in the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania, the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and in Ireland’s Representative Office in Timor-Leste. He was also seconded for three years from 2013-2016 to the European External Action Service, serving in the Delegation of the European Union to the Multilateral Organisations in Vienna.

Prior to taking up his post in Austin, Robert served in the Department’s Political and Reconciliation Section, in the Ireland, UK and Americas Division. His role focused on engagement work in Northern Ireland. He has also previously held positions in the Department’s Political Division and Press Office.

Robert is from Belfast and holds a Master of Arts (Hons.) in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and Africa Studies, University of London and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in History from the University of Durham.

As Consul General of Ireland, how does your membership in the Austin Council on Foreign Affairs support your professional responsibilities?

The role of the Consulate of Ireland in Austin is to promote connections between Ireland and Texas, including business, cultural, educational and political relationships. The Austin Council on Foreign Affairs has been incredibly helpful by providing a platform to meet people from different professional backgrounds in Austin that share an interest in international partnerships.

An important aspect of serving outside your country as a diplomat is understanding local perspectives on global issues. ACFA regularly host experts on a range of different topics of shared relevance to both Austin and Ireland. Having access to the analysis of guest speakers and the different viewpoints that may exist amongst attendees helps broaden my own understanding of different topics.

In our dynamic world today, what are some of the most pressing issues in which the Governments of Ireland and U.S. share common interest?

It is a privilege to represent Ireland in Austin and, as anyone that has been in the U.S. on 17 March will know, there are many deep bonds between Ireland and the United States.  These bonds are older than our respective republics and are based not just on common ancestral ties but, crucially, on a shared commitment to human development, peace and prosperity.

Ireland and the U.S. enjoy a remarkable economic relationship that delivers for both countries.  It is a two-way street that that drives prosperity not just in every Irish county, but also in every American State. 200,000 Americans go to work in Irish companies every day and Ireland is now the 5th largest source of foreign investment in the U.S.

Irish companies have established a strong presence in Texas, driving innovation, economic growth, employment and collaboration across industries ranging from healthcare and technology to energy and aerospace. There are now 40 Irish companies in Texas, employing more than 24,000 people throughout the state. In turn, 74 Texas-owned companies have a presence in Ireland employing 17,000 people in Ireland.

You've been based in Austin for about 3 years. In that time, how have you seen local leadership in international affairs evolve?

During my time here, I have seen continued growth in connections between Ireland and Austin, and Texas more broadly. A significant development in this regard was the establishment of a sister city relationship between Austin and Limerick at the end of 2024. This formal partnership offers a welcome framework for more collaboration, and we value the continued interest from the City of Austin in these types of partnerships.

Whilst political leadership and relationships with state and local officials and elected representatives are very important to the Consulate, I have also observed leaders in the business community, higher education, and the arts intentionally working to build international partnerships. It has been great to work with leaders in these sectors on projects in Austin, as well as see these organisations bring groups to Ireland.