Overview
Our membership of the UN has been central to Ireland’s foreign policy since we joined in 1955. The principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter are those we have always striven to promote.
"The United Nations, and the rules-based international order, is central to who we are as a nation. But multilateralism can only succeed if it is effective. And it can only be effective if we, the Member States, allow it to be so. That takes courage. It takes political will. It takes commitment to collective solutions to global challenges. It takes a readiness to compromise. It takes a genuine belief in the principles of the United Nations Charter." – Micheál Martin, speaking at the 77th UN General Assembly, September 2022.
Our membership of the United Nations has been central to Ireland’s foreign policy since we joined in 1955. The principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter are those we have always strived to promote and protect.
The principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter are common collective goals, and include:
- maintaining international peace and security;
- promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes;
- promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
- promoting economic and social development.
We take seriously our obligations under the UN Charter and our foreign policy is framed with these obligations in mind. At the UN, Ireland seeks to translate the principles and values of the UN Charter into effective international action on a range of global challenges:
- Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and working to achieve the SDGs by 2030;
- ensuring international peace and security;
- defending human rights; and
- eliminating the threat posed by nuclear weapons.
Ireland has earned considerable international respect through its active participation in the UN, including our recent 2021-2022 term on the UN Security Council. Through our principled contribution on issues such as human rights, development, peacekeeping and disarmament, we have been able to achieve an impact which is disproportionate to our size. This adds real value and reach to the role played by Ireland in international relations and assists the Government in realising its key foreign policy objectives.
At the UN, Ireland also works to shape common EU positions and statements on a wide range of political, security, human rights, development and other issues.
The UN’s General Assembly opens in September each year with a plenary debate in which Foreign Ministers and Heads of State from most of the UN’s 193 members participate. The contributions made by Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Taoiseach are an opportunity for Ireland to indicate its approach to key global challenges over the coming year.
Ireland’s Permanent Mission in New York promotes Irish foreign policy interests and values at the United Nations. In addition, Ireland has permanent missions to the UN in Geneva and in Vienna.