Foreign Affairs Committee to focus on Ireland’s membership of the UN Human Right’s Council

Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Pat Breen TD said: “Established in 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body made up of 47 States. It is the UN’s principal human rights body and is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.

Ireland was elected for the first time to serve as a Council member for the 2013-2015 term. Its election to the Council against stiff opposition is a tribute to the high standing that Ireland has built up in the UN and to the reputation it has established on human rights issues over the decades.

As we near the end of the first year of Ireland’s Council membership, we will have an opportunity tomorrow to discuss with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland’s contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights during our tenure on the Council Human Rights Council and the priorities for the remainder of our membership.”

The meeting will start in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 6th October 2013.

Following this meeting, at 5pm, An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore TD will come before the Committee to discuss a motion that Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Arms Trade Treaty.

Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

Media queries to:

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

Deputies

Seán Crowe, TD
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Olivia Mitchell, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD

Senators

Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.