Permanent Representative of Ireland to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg
Ambassador Caitríona Doyle
Welcome Message
Ireland’s commitment to human rights remains as firm as ever. A central pillar of Ireland’s foreign policy, it underpins our global engagement. In Strasbourg, Geneva, Brussels and New York, we are proud to raise our voice to champion human rights concerns, defend the multilateral system and hold to account those responsible for human rights violations.
The Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine has brought the founding principle of the Council of Europe into sharp relief; “that the pursuit of peace based upon justice and international cooperation is vital for the preservation of human society and civilisation”. It is clear that the work of the Council of Europe, based on the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, is more vital than ever.
Ireland has not forgotten the key role that membership of the Council of Europe played in shaping our own path in European cooperation. As a small country, Ireland depends on the international rules-based order and the multilateral system.
Ireland’s founding membership of the Council of Europe and our implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) helped consolidate the rule of law in our young state and served as a bridge for us from isolation to integration. Over the past seven decades, the Council’s fundamental principles of pluralist democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law have spurred positive change across our state and society, shaping modern Ireland. Ireland will continue to aid the Council in protecting and promoting these vital principles at a time when they are most needed, safeguarding them for the decades and generations to come.
Teachtaireacht fáilte ón Ambasadóir Caitríona Doyle
Tá tiomantas na hÉireann do chearta an duine chomh daingean agus a bhí riamh. Cuid lárnach de bheartas eachtrach na hÉireann, tá sé mar bhonn agus mar thaca ag ár rannpháirtíocht dhomhanda. In Strasbourg, sa Ghinéiv, sa Bhruiséil agus i Nua-Eabhrac, tá bród orainn ár nguth a ardú chun imní faoi chearta an duine a chosaint, chun an córas iltaobhach a chosaint agus chun iad siúd atá freagrach as sáruithe ar chearta an duine a thabhairt chun cuntais.
Thug ionsaí Chónaidhm na Rúise i gcoinne na hÚcráine faoiseamh géar do phrionsabal bunaidh Chomhairle na hEorpa; “go bhfuil saothrú na síochána bunaithe ar cheartas agus ar chomhoibriú idirnáisiúnta ríthábhachtach chun an tsochaí dhaonna agus an tsibhialtacht a chaomhnú”. Is léir go bhfuil obair Chomhairle na hEorpa, atá bunaithe ar chearta an duine, an daonlathais agus an smachta reachta a chur chun cinn agus a chosaint, níos tábhachtaí ná riamh.
Níl dearmad déanta ag Éirinn ar an bpríomhról a bhí ag ballraíocht de Chomhairle na hEorpa i múnlú ár gcosán féin sa chomhar Eorpach. Mar thír bheag, braitheann Éire ar an ord idirnáisiúnta atá bunaithe ar rialacha agus ar an gcóras iltaobhach.
Chuidigh ballraíocht bhunaidh na hÉireann ar Chomhairle na hEorpa agus ár gcur i bhfeidhm an Choinbhinsiúin Eorpaigh um Chearta an Duine (CECD) leis an smacht reachta inár stát óg a chomhdhlúthú agus d’fheidhmigh siad mar dhroichead dúinn ón aonrú go dtí an lánpháirtiú. Le seacht mbliana anuas, tá bunphrionsabail na Comhairle maidir le daonlathas iolraíoch, meas ar chearta an duine agus an smacht reachta tar éis athrú dearfach a spreagadh ar fud ár stáit agus ár sochaí, ag múnlú Éire nua-aimseartha. Leanfaidh Éire ag cabhrú leis an gComhairle na prionsabail ríthábhachtacha seo a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn ag am is mó a bhfuil gá leo, agus iad a chosaint ar feadh na mblianta agus na glúnta atá le teacht.