Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2015
323. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33972/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecember 14th 2015 marks the 60th anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the United Nations. Our engagement with the United Nations has been, and continues to be, central to our foreign policy, and it was a privilege for Ireland to play such a central role in the final negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals in this, our anniversary year.
In May of this year, my Department launched a programme of events to commemorate sixty years of UN membership. The commemorations began with a lecture in Dublin Castle delivered by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, titled The UN at 70: Looking Backwards, Looking Forward. The following day the Secretary General hosted a youth event on sustainable development in Iveagh House. In July, in recognition of our commitment to international development and humanitarian assistance, Ireland’s first Humanitarian Summit was opened by President Michael D Higgins.
In September, my Department published a classroom map charting Ireland’s engagement with the United Nations over the past six decades. Also that month I launched the UN Youth Delegate Programme, which saw two young Irish citizens travel to New York to participate in the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly. While in New York, I opened a commemorative exhibition at the American Irish Historical Society in Manhattan, showcasing Ireland’s first years at the UN. This exhibition will travel to the Palais des Nations in Geneva before its launch in Ireland in December for showings in Dublin and Cork.
Later this month my Department will host a seminar on new security challenges facing the UN and the multilateral order in the twenty-first century. In November, the Department of Defence and the Permanent Defence Forces will host a public event to mark Ireland’s contribution to UN peacekeeping since our first deployment in 1958, and in December, the programme of anniversary events will conclude with a Symposium marking the actual date of Ireland’s accession to the UN in 1955.
As we look back on sixty years of membership we must also look forward. It is through our continued commitment to the United Nations and to the values and principles it represents that we can provide the most fitting commemoration of this important anniversary.
