In 2005, Ireland announced its candidature for election to the United Nations Security Council in 2020 for the 2021-2022 term. In seeking election to the United Nations Security Council, Ireland will present its candidature on the basis of its firm commitment to the principles and values enshrined in the United Nations Charter. We will draw on our record of dedicated service to the maintenance of international peace and security, our successful experience of conflict resolution on the island of Ireland and elsewhere, our active promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and our strong commitment to global economic and social development. Ireland has served twice so far on the United Nations Security Council: during the periods 1981-1982 and 2001-2002. Each of these terms was judged a success in terms of what we brought to the Council and the contribution we made to its deliberations and decisions.
Ireland is widely perceived to have made an extremely positive contribution to the United Nations since we joined the Organization in 1955. We have earned a strong international reputation as a UN member, in particular because of our contribution to UN peacekeeping and because of an acclaimed development cooperation programme which includes steadfast support for United Nations funds and programmes.
In our campaign for membership of the Security Council for the 2021-22 term, we will build on these strengths, on the profile we have developed across many areas of UN activity and on leadership roles we have played recently, notably in the EU and OSCE contexts. While the elections in question are seven years away, this campaign will be one of my Department’s key priorities over the coming years. We will work assiduously towards securing election in 2020 and the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York will play a key role in this effort.
