Bruce Davis - Australian Ambassador to Ireland
AT THE moment obviously the flooding back home is a major concern and I have been busy giving interviews to the media about that.
I’ve been in Ireland a year and now and have had terrific opportunities to get to different parts of the country for Irish-Australian functions, as well as a lot of community- related and sporting events. I don’t think there’s a county I haven’t been to.
I’m here on my own at the moment. My wife works in the Solomon Islands but she will be coming to join me this year. My two children are in university and won’t be moving over.
I live in Killiney. It’s nice to be by the sea. Australians love a coastline.
I’m from Queensland originally, though I’ve lived for many years in Canberra. My Irish connections go back five generations to Co Cavan.
The embassy is in Fitzwilliam House, overlooking the Grand Canal.
At this time of year there is an 11-hour time difference with Canberra, so if I get in early I can catch the end of the day before back home.
For me a typical day is a round of reports, calls and meetings. When I get in, there will be a number of government-related reports waiting for me to read. Of course there are a number of receptions in the evening too. It varies from week to week but it would be unusual if I didn’t have at least one or two to go to each week.
I have a staff of 13 here, three are from Australia and 10 are recruited locally.
The purpose of the embassy is to further the Irish-Australian relationship and as part of that I will have regular dealings with the Irish Government, particularly with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
I’ll also have quite a lot of contact with agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, looking to explore business opportunities between our two countries.
There are quite a lot of non-governmental organisations here with strong linkages with their counterparts in Australia and I like to engage with them too.
I also try to get round the universities. There is a lot of interest in where Asia is going and Australia is very much an Asia-Pacific nation.
I go out and pick up a sandwich for lunch somewhere in Baggot Street unless it’s a Thursday, when there’s a nice market nearby.
Most of my career to date was spent in overseas development.
Prior to my appointment I was head of the Australian Aid Agency, which was very interesting work. Australia is unusual in that it is a developed nation surrounded by developing nations and there are a number of issues relating to that.
I’ll finish up, if there is no reception, at 5.30pm or 6pm. On my time off I’ve been doing a lot of walking. Ireland is a great country for walking. I’ve also developed an interest in GAA, particularly hurling. I love it.
In conversation with Sandra O’Connell