His Excellency, Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency, Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al-Mohammad, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait and His Excellency, Mr. Trevor Mallard, Ambassador of New Zealand presented their Letters of Credence to President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.
His Excellency, Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan was accompanied by Ms. Chiharu Akine, First Secretary.
His Excellency H.E. Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al-Mohammad, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Hebah Al-Matrook, his sons Ali Mohammad Al-Mohammad, Abdulmuhsen Mohammad Al-Mohammad, Hasan Mohammad Al-Mohammad, and Mr. Ahmad Al-Munayes, Diplomatic Attaché.
His Excellency, Mr. Trevor Mallard, Ambassador of New Zealand was accompanied by his spouse, Ms. Jane Clifton and Mr. Ernest Stokes, Second Secretary.
Mr. Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business; and the Department of Social Protection, represented the Government at the ceremony.
The following were also present: Ms. Orla O’Hanrahan, Secretary General to the President; Mr. Colm O’Floinn, Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Paul Kavanagh, Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs; Col. Stephen Howard, Comdt. Brian Walsh, Capt Austin Doyle and Comdt. Deirdre Newel, Aides-de-Camp to the President; Mr. Joe Brennan and Ms. Louisa Heneghan, Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Ambassadors were accompanied to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an Escort of Honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2 Brigade Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Lieutenant Tadhg Campbell.
A Guard of Honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by the 12th Infantry Battalion, Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick under the command of Lieutenant Caelen Murphy.
Lieutenant Mark McGirr from the 12th Infantry Battalion was the flag officer
Captain Ben Jacob conducted the Army No 1 Band which is based in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin
