The British ambassador to Ireland, Dominick Chilcott, is to leave his post in the summer.

Mr Chilcott’s term in Dublin will come to an end in late July, enabling him to remain in situ for the referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union and commemorations marking the centenary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme.

Mr Chilcott was appointed ambassador to Ireland in 2012, less than a year after he was expelled from Iran after just a month as ambassador there in retaliation for the economic sanctions imposed by the EU over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

He was deputy head of mission at the British embassy to the United States before his appointment to Iran.

Mr Chilcott will be replaced by Robin Barnett, who recently returned to London after a five-year posting as ambassador to Poland. A career diplomat, Mr Barnett is a specialist on central and eastern Europe, having had three postings in Poland and served as ambassador in Romania.