Minister Flanagan Addresses UN General Assembly on Ireland’s Foreign Policy Priorities

Mr. President

I am honoured to address the General Assembly today on behalf of Ireland on this, the 60th anniversary of my country joining the United Nations, and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the UN itself. At the intersection of these two special anniversaries, it has been a great privilege for Ireland to have co-facilitated the final negotiations of the Sustainable Development Goals, the implementation of which is critical for the future of our planet and its people.

The SDGs are a tangible manifestation of the capacity of the UN to deliver positive outcomes in very challenging circumstances. But we cannot be complacent; on the contrary, in this anniversary year, we must critically appraise our failures as the international community to prevent war, genocide, forced displacement and deprivation. Today we face unprecedented challenges in confronting the savage violence of well-resourced non-State actors as well as some States with consequential humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in many parts of the world. Strong and assertive leadership by the UN has never been as critical. And I know the UN and its members can live up to this great challenge.

In our 60 years at the UN, we have pursued a series of policy priorities which continue to be central to our foreign policy today. These include peacekeeping; non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament; development aid; promoting peace and security while on the Security Council; and advancing gender equality. I will touch upon these policies and outline their continuing relevance for Ireland today.

The 1950s

When Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955, our then prime minister, Taoiseach John A. Costello, identified our goal as playing “our part to secure what small nations have always required, the maintenance of peace”. We are extremely proud that the loyal service of Irish peacekeepers has been central to our engagement with the UN since 1958. On 12 occasions our soldiers have led UN missions. There are currently 370 committed and courageous Irish peacekeeping troops serving in seven UN missions. 87 Irish peacekeepers have tragically lost their lives in the service of the UN.

Ireland feels a strong sense of responsibility to protect the reputation and honour of UN peacekeepers. We owe this to our peacekeeping troops, past, present and future. And so, like Secretary General Ban, we received reports of sexual abuse involving some UN peacekeepers with shock and outrage.

UN peacekeeping missions must never be associated with exploitation because of the actions of a few. Ireland will always speak out to defend the vulnerable. We will not be silent about the plight of women and children harmed by the very people responsible for their protection. Those serving under the UN flag have a fundamental responsibility to behave in an honourable way and to be a force for good in this world. Ireland demands decisive action in confronting any criminal behaviour by UN troops. This is vital to protect the good name of the UN and its peacekeepers, the overwhelming majority of them principled people. We want appropriate training, clear accountability and strict sanctions. I welcome SG Ban’s commitment to making the UN’s “firm zero tolerance policy into an effective zero crime reality”.

Mr. President

UN peacekeeping and Ireland’s contribution have adapted in scale and complexity to challenges over the past six decades. Continuing flexibility and innovation are essential. I therefore welcome the High Level Panel’s report on peace operations and its comprehensive analysis of the challenges ahead and the changes required. In particular, our own experience of conflict in Ireland has taught us that full and equal participation by women in decisions around peace and security are vital to building a sustainable peace.

The 1960s

Mr. President

From our earliest days at the UN, Ireland has been passionately committed to disarmament and non-proliferation. As the first state to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 following several years work as initiator of the General Assembly Resolutions that led to its agreement, we have a deep and abiding commitment to the full implementation of the Treaty. Significant progress has been made on non-proliferation. We warmly welcome the agreement reached with Iran and look forward to its full implementation. More broadly, we hope that this will also mark the opening of a new and constructive chapter in Iran’s engagement in the international system. Conversely, the outcome of the NPT Review Conference in May was deeply disappointing. States with nuclear arsenals have special responsibilities and Ireland will continue to press them to deliver on their commitments under the NPT.

Today there are at least 17,000 nuclear weapons posing a threat to our very survival. We cannot accept this status quo. Ireland wants real momentum injected into the nuclear disarmament pillar of the NPT. The SDG negotiation process has underscored the very positive role that civic society groups and people around the world can play €“ Ireland would like to see that positivity, inclusivity and urgency in the nuclear disarmament debate.

Mr President,

We see daily the consequences of illegal and irresponsible flows of arms and conventional weapons in the appalling scenes of chaos and brutality into which parts of our world have descended. The scenes in our newspapers and on our TV and computer screens are truly horrific. People wonder what can be done to stem this industrial scale violence. Part of the solution is the Arms Trade Treaty – one of the international community’s most significant achievements in recent years. Ireland was one of the first states to ratify the Treaty and we have offered financial support to enable wider participation in negotiations and more effective implementation.

The onus is now on all States Parties to maintain the immense and sustained effort put into negotiating the Treaty. We must ensure that we live up to its great promise, with the ultimate goal of enhancing peace and security and saving lives.

The 1970s

Mr President

In 1974, having acceded to the European Union the previous year, Ireland established its programme of overseas development cooperation, Irish Aid. Since then Ireland has provided over $13 bn in support of the world’s most impoverished people and has championed the aid agenda within the EU, which is the world’s largest provider of development assistance.

Last week, meeting at the UN, world leaders adopted new Sustainable Development Goals for the period up to 2030. We have committed ourselves to an ambitious and transformational agenda to end extreme poverty, to preserve the planet for this and future generations and to create conditions for balanced economic growth around the world. Reaching agreement on these Goals is one of the most important achievements of the United Nations in recent years. It was an enormous challenge €“ and we, the 193 member States, rose to it.

This was multilateral diplomacy at its best.

The UN has demonstrated its continuing relevance, and indeed indispensability. I am proud that Ireland was able to make its contribution through the co-facilitator role played by Ambassador David Donoghue and his team in the negotiations which, working with Kenya, brought about this landmark agreement. Moving to successful implementation of this huge global agenda will be the next great challenge.

We do not underestimate the challenges for all countries in implementing a universal agenda which is as broad and diverse as the new SDGs. But we cannot underestimate the huge achievement and benefits for humanity if it is successfully implemented.

Mr. President,

Our development gains are threatened by the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crises facing our world. The total number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide has now surpassed 50 million people. In Europe, we have clearly seen the tragic consequences for those who, driven by desperation, are taking inconceivable risks to find a safe haven for their families. Addressing the migration crisis is an enormous challenge for Europe and one which we are working hard to resolve. People are fleeing their home countries for a multiplicity of reasons. They are arriving in Europe from a multiplicity of routes. They undertake perilous journeys, often exploited by ruthless criminals along the way. This is a disaster which requires the close collaboration of the international community. The UN is undertaking vital work in seeking to address the root causes of the mass migration and to provide humanitarian assistance to those who have been driven from their homes by the ravages of war. I urge States to work with the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Migration, Irishman Peter Sutherland, who is dedicating himself to assisting in the resolution of this global catastrophe. Ireland is supporting the humanitarian effort by providing crucial funding and other resources. We have deployed search and rescue ships to the Mediterranean. We are providing for the resettlement of over 4,000 refugees.

Ireland welcomes the Secretary General’s establishment of a High Level Panel to address this growing gap between humanitarian needs and resources. We will participate fully in this and all other processes leading to next year’s World Humanitarian Summit.

The 1980s

Mr. President

In the 1980s we completed our first full term on the UN Security Council, motivated by our commitment to multilateralism and a rule based international system. These values are under grave threat today. Russia’s unlawful annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine have had profound implications for the people of Ukraine and for the international system itself. Ireland calls on all sides to respect and fully implement the Minsk Agreements and cooperate with the OSCE’s peacebuilding efforts.

During our first term on the Security Council in 1981-82, the Middle East was, as ever, prominent on the international agenda. Today, challenges in the region are even greater. In Syria, over 200,000 people have lost their lives and over eleven million people have been displaced. The Assad regime continues to flout international law while ISIS visits gratuitous cruelty and suffering on the people of Syria and Northern Iraq. Its casual barbarism is a threat to every value the UN holds dear and therefore the UN has a duty to act.

Elsewhere in the region, Ireland remains concerned at the continued stalemate in the Middle East Peace Process. We are strong advocates of the two State solution as the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

In our pursuit of peace on the island of Ireland, we were €“ and continue to be – supported by steadfast partners who stayed the course with us through many difficult years, keeping faith where others saw hopelessness. In our wide-ranging work on conflict prevention, mediation, and state-building, we seek to share our experience. We hope to bring this to the table when we seek election to the Security Council again in 2020.

The 1990s

Mr. President

Historically, Ireland has supported the promotion and protection of human rights from our early support for decolonisation to our opposition to apartheid in South Africa and through to our election to the Human Rights Council for the term 2013 to 2015. In 1997 Ireland’s former President, Mary Robinson was appointed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

At the Human Rights Council, Ireland has sought to give concrete expression to the long held convictions that have informed our positions at the UN. We have championed resolutions to promote and protect civil society space which we recognise as essential to make other rights attainable. We advocate for the critical role of Human Rights Defenders. We have led initiatives to prevent morbidity and mortality of children under five.

In Ireland there is widespread concern about violent repression and terrorist attacks on religious minorities. We have seen an alarming rise in attacks on Christians, Baha’i, Jews and Muslims. Elsewhere people are oppressed and punished because of their gender, race or sexual orientation. In short, vulnerable minorities are under increasing attack, from repressive State regimes and from transnational terrorist networks including ISIS, al-Qaeda and Boko Haram. The United Nations, as champion of equality plurality and diversity, has an important role to play in defending and protecting vulnerable groups. We fully support the organisation in this essential task. This year Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise Marriage Equality by a popular vote €“ this has been a hugely positive experience for Ireland and we urge other States to follow suit and to promote rights for LGBTI citizens. Similarly, Ireland has had its own historic experience of religious repression; therefore, religious freedom is a matter of great importance to my country.

The 2000s

Mr. President

I wish to emphasise Ireland’s grave concern for vulnerable women and girls in many parts of the world and our strong commitment to gender equality. On his visit to Ireland in May, Secretary General Ban spoke passionately of his personal commitment to gender equality and the UN’s efforts to combat the emergence of appalling forms of sexual violence and enslavement. Mindful of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, we must keep women’s rights high on our agenda.

In the year 2000, just before our last membership of the Security Council, Ireland co-sponsored UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, reflecting our strong national commitment to this agenda.

Ireland’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, adopted since I last addressed you, takes a holistic approach. It looks outwards, to gender-proof the activity of our diplomatic, development, and peace support programming and deployments. It looks inwards to the reconciliation activity on our island and offering relief and recovery to women and girls who sought shelter from violent conflict on Irish shores.

I hope SG Ban may be succeeded by a brilliant female Secretary General in due course €“ this would send a powerful message to women and men around the world that here at the UN, we are willing to remove the barriers that prevent women from fulfilling their potential.

Conclusion

Mr President,

After 60 years, Ireland’s commitment to the United Nations and to the values and principles it represents; and to its unique legitimacy and universality is as strong and resolute as ever. We remain active and ardent champions of the multilateral system of collective security centred on the United Nations, and continue to place this distinguished body at the very heart of our foreign policy as we look to the future.

However, we need the Security Council to be more accountable, coherent and transparent. We support the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform and want to see an expanded membership with wider geographical representation, especially for Africa. We strongly endorse the Code of Conduct on Security Council action on mass atrocity crimes developed by Liechtenstein and the ACT group, and we support the Declaration by France and Mexico on regulating the use of the veto. Ireland is ready for membership in 2021 of a reformed and more representative Security Council €“ one that is better equipped to respond to 21st century threats to international peace and security.

Realising the UN’s core values in every member state will mean a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable world for this generation and all those to come after. I conclude with the words of the late Irish poet, Seamus Heaney:

“I have begun to think of life as a series of ripples widening out from an original centre”

In 2015, a very special anniversary year, it is a time to reflect on our original centre €“ the UN charter – and for all 193 Member States to recommit ourselves to delivering on its great promise €“ a peaceful, just and prosperous world.

Thank you.

ENDS