TIM Sharkey, who took leave of absence from the Department of Foreign Affairs some 18 months ago, is back in the fold. The former ambassador to Tokyo and Canberra is to be our new ambassador to Copenhagen.
The move is one of several top DFA appointments due this summer. The chief of protocol John Burke will become ambassador to Lisbon, replacing Eamonn Ryan, who goes to Brussels. Pat Cradock leaves Brussels for Athens, Orla O'Hanrahan will be consul general in Boston and Barry Robinson has already started as consul general in New York.
Meanwhile the official announcement of the job swap between our ambassador in Washington, Dermot Gallagher, and the second secretary at DFA with responsibility for Anglo Irish affairs, Sean O hUiginn, is eagerly awaited.