UN flag to fly over Leinster House – Richmond

TO mark Ireland’s successful election onto the United Nations Security Council, the UN flag will fly over Leinster House at the instigation of Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond.

Deputy Richmond, a Dublin Rathdown TD, wrote to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl following Ireland’s election success last month and the Chairman of the Dáil has acceded to the request.

“I am delighted that the Ceann Comhairle has agreed to my suggestion for the UN flag to be flown at Leinster House. The blue standard will fly for the duration of our term on the security council.

“This is an important move to mark Ireland’s successful election to the UN Security Council, a major achievement for our small state and for our wonderful diplomatic corps,” Deputy Richmond said.

“Ireland has a proud history of supporting multilateralism but particularly when it comes to our record at the UN.

“Ireland has been a member of the UN since 1955 and this will be Ireland’s fourth term on the UN Security Council having previously served terms in 1962, from 1981-82 and 2001-02.

“Irish people have served the UN with distinction. Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 – 2002 and in March 2013, was appointed as UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa. In July 2014, Ms Robinson was appointed UN Special Envoy for Climate Change.

“Patricia O’Brien served as Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs from 2008 – 2013. Many other Irish nationals have served in a variety of key roles over our 60 years of UN membership.

“Flying the flag of the UN at Leinster House will also serve to underline our long standing commitment to UN peacekeeping missions. Ireland has a proud tradition of participation in UN and UN-supported peacekeeping missions, both civilian and military.

“Irish peacekeepers are highly respected internationally and their efforts, since 1958, in places like the Golan Heights, Kosovo and the Democratic Republic of Congo can never be underestimated.

“Flying the UN flag at Leinster House will once more show our gratitude for those many Irish men and women who have worn the blue beret of the UN as well as remember the 86 Irish soldiers who gave their lives in such service.

“Our world is a volatile place and the shifting tectonic plates of global politics present danger at every turn. The best way to address all dangers is through an open and engaging foreign policy that has at the heart of it multilateral institutions like the UN.

“As parliamentarians, we should be proud of Ireland’s history at the UN and appropriately mark the success of the election to the UN Security Council. Raising the UN flag at Leinster House is a small, but significant, way to do this,” Deputy Richmond said