Ambassador Pádraig Murphy retired from the Irish diplomatic service in 2005 after a career which spanned almost forty years, most of which was spent in Ambassador-level appointments. These included postings as Ambassador of Ireland to the Soviet Union (1981-85), the Federal Republic of Germany (1991-98), Spain (1998-2001) and Japan (2001-05), as well as a six-year period as Political Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

He currently serves as Chair of the Foreign Policy Group of the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin.