The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, has announced nine new ambassadorial appointments, four of whom are first-time ambassadors.
A Department spokeswoman said the number of appointments was perfectly normal for this time of the year.
They include one woman and the first Ambassador to the recently opened embassy in Mexico.
The Mexican position is filled by Mr Art Agnew (59), who has been ambassador to Argentina since 1996.
Mr Agnew joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1970 and has previously served in missions in Germany and Spain, and as the Permanent Representation to the EU.
The vacancy in Buenos Aires is filled by Ms Paula Slattery, who was previously head of personnel at the Department and most recently a counsellor in the economic division. This is her first posting as Ambassador.
Mr David Donoghue (47), who has been appointed to the Russian Federation, is also a new Ambassador. He joined the Department in 1975 and served in missions in Bonn, London and, since July 1995, the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in Belfast.
Mr Declan Connolly (55) has been appointed Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. He joined the Department in 1965. He has been ambassador to Hungary since October 1995, having previously been ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Austria.
Mr Michael Collins (46) was appointed Ambassador to the Czech Republic. He has previously been ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Mr Jim Flavin (57) has been appointed Ambassador to Hungary. Mr Flavin has been ambassador to India since August 1995.
Mr Philip McDonagh (47) was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of India. He has been assigned to the embassy in London as counsellor for the last five years. This is his first posting at ambassadorial rank.
Mr Conor Murphy (55) has been appointed Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mr Murphy joined the Department in 1965. This is his first posting at ambassadorial level, having previously served in missions in Lagos, Brussels, New Delhi and the Permanent Missions to the UN and the EU.
Since 1997, Mr Murphy has worked in the Department's political division in Dublin at counsellor level.
Mr Paul Murray (50) has been appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. He has been assigned to the Anglo-Irish Secretariat as counsellor since 1997. He joined the Department in 1972 and previously served in missions in London, Tokyo and Ottawa.