Ireland Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Dr. Leo Varadkar says the Global Footprint plan “means new and augmented diplomatic missions and as well as significantly increased resources for [Ireland's] investment, tourism, cultural and food agencies overseas”.

It's needed to offset to whatever degree may be possible the downside of a post-Brexit Ireland/Northern Ireland border - which will then be the only EU/UK land border, and will inevitably result in some kind of frontier and customs controls that could have a significant negative effect on Irish trade and tourism.