THE BRITISH ambassador to Dublin, Julian King, who helped engineer and oversee the successful visit of Queen Elizabeth to the Republic, has been promoted to the position of director general of the Northern Ireland Office, it was confirmed last night.
Mr King takes over from Hilary Jackson who is standing down after six years in the post – a period that saw the successful transition from direct rule from Westminster to powersharing government from Stormont.
Mr King (47) was appointed as ambassador to Ireland in September 2009 and is expected to move to his new post in the new year. He will work with Northern Secretary Owen Paterson.
It is understood that a replacement as ambassador has yet to be identified.
The Government is likely to be happy with the appointment as Mr King was proactive in ensuring good relations with Dublin and will bring to the Northern Ireland Office a knowledge of the interests, sensitivities and concerns of the Government in relation to North-South, British-Irish and internal Northern Ireland issues.
Mr King joined the British foreign office in 1985 and has had several foreign postings since then.
Before his appointment as ambassador to Dublin he headed the office of European commissioner Peter Mandelson, a former northern secretary.
With the move to devolution the Northern Ireland Office has been radically slimmed down in recent years.
Ms Jackson held the post of director general, the most senior civil servant in the office. Previously at the time of direct rule the most senior civil servant was Jonathan Phillips, who was a permanent secretary.