12 Dec 2011, 16:55
Ireland’s priorities for its Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 2012 will be discussed by the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade tomorrow, Tuesday 13th December.
David Donoghue, Political Director at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Frank Cogan, Head of the OSCE Taskforce, will address the main issues and concerns for Ireland as its assumes chairmanship of the OSCE.
Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “We are delighted that Mr Donoghue and Mr Cogan have agreed to come before the Committee tomorrow to discuss Ireland’s priorities for our Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in Europe, Central Asia and North America. Comprising fifty-six participating States (including all the members of the EU, the USA, Canada and Russia) and twelve partner countries, the OSCE’s deals with a wide range of security issues, including arms control, preventive diplomacy, confidence and security building measures, human rights, election monitoring and economic and environmental security.
Ireland will hold the Chairmanship of the OSCE throughout 2012. This will clearly be an onerous task and will require clear and realistic priorities as well as the flexibility to respond to any crises which may arise. It is also a great opportunity for small country like Ireland to play a major role on the international stage and comes ahead of Ireland holding the presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2013.
Tomorrow’s meeting will provide an opportunity to hear what Ireland believes it can achieve through its Chairmanship and what issues we will prioritise to distinguish the period of our Chairmanship and how these can further the aims of the OSCE.”
This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 at 2.30pm on Tuesday, 13th December.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Michael McNamara, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.