UN Security Council place a 'strong endorsement' of the values of Ireland on the global stage, says Derry MP Colum Eastwood

Ireland won a place on the influential UNSC in a vote in New York on Wednesday night.

It will sit on the 15- member body in 2021 and 2022.

Mr. Eastwood said: “This is excellent news for Ireland and I want to pay tribute to Tánaiste Simon Coveney, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the many others who led this campaign over the last two years. ”

“The Department of Foreign Affairs has engaged seriously with the issues we face on a global scale such as the climate emergency, the elimination of world poverty and peacebuilding. In a challenging category, this result is a strong endorsement of the values Ireland represents on the world stage, in almost 60 years of United Nations involvement.

“With this new position of authority comes responsibility and I hope that Ireland will use our seat on the UN Security Council to speak up for a peaceful and just resolution to the Palestinian conflict. Ireland has always placed human rights and justice at the fore of our global policies and this seat must be used as a force for good.”

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “This is a day on which we can all be proud. We have experienced a very difficult three months as a nation as we isolated ourselves from friends, family, work and travel.

"However, today’s victory underpins Ireland’s place in the world; as a global island, with a clear and tangible ambition to play a central role in contributing to international peace and security.

"We look forward to working with our partners in the international community from all around the world to promote our shared values of peace, justice, and human rights.

“We will do our utmost to make our two years on the Council as constructive and as effective as we can, acting as a voice for all who champion the peaceful resolution of conflict and addressing the drivers of conflict, drawing on the experiences we have gained from peacebuilding in our own part of the world.”

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD said: “This is a fantastic result for Ireland in what was a very tough contest between competitors who are friends, supporters of the United Nations system and who share many of the same values and principles.

“I believe that today’s result is a clear indication of Ireland’s standing internationally. This comes from almost 65 years of UN membership and a steadfast commitment to building peace and investing in conflict prevention.

"There has not been a day since 1958 when Irish peacekeepers did not serve under the UN Blue Flag. For this and many other reasons, the members of the UN have honoured Ireland by placing their trust in us to take a seat at the Security Council and to do our best to further the objectives of peace, conflict resolution and security for all of citizens of all the UN Member States. We will not betray that trust”

The Tánaiste added: “I would like to pay tribute to so many whose support has led to today’s success, in particular, to the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, who has played a key role.

"But this campaign has been supported right across the political spectrum, as well as by NGOs and civil society and I would like to thank all for that. A special thank you to former President Mary Robinson.

"Also to Bono, and John McColgan who extended all the help they could in helping us promote our campaign for election. Thanks also to my Government colleagues. And of course a special thanks to our teams here in Ireland, in New York – led so ably by our Ambassador, Geraldine Byrne Nason - and in our Embassies across the world, all who have made today possible. ”