New Irish ambassadors to Australia, Canada and Greece are among 11 senior diplomatic nominees who have been approved by the Cabinet.

Breandán Ó Caollaí is to become ambassador to Australia, a posting that also covers Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Jim Kelly will take over as ambassador to Canada, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

Michael Forbes, the State's representative at the OECD and Unesco, is to become ambassador to Bulgaria, Armenia and Georgia.

He will be replaced as representative at the OECD and Unesco by Dermot Nolan.

Kevin Kelly is to become ambassador to the Netherlands, while Síle Maguire will become ambassador to Greece, Albania and Serbia.

Keith McBean will be permanent representative to the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, while Helena Nolan is to become ambassador to Belgium.