Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D Higgins last night welcomed Ireland’s election to the UN Security Council.
We competed against Canada and Norway for two seats on the council after ballots were cast and counted at the UN General Assembly in New York.
A total of 191 countries voted for the the two-year term beginning in 2021.
Ireland needed a two-thirds majority, or 128 votes, to win and have obtained the the number required.
Norway also secured a seat on the council. Commenting last night, Mr Varadkar said: “Once again we are taking our place among the nations of the world and sitting at the top table.
“I believe it was a vote for the values that Ireland represents on the world’s stage; multilateralism, freedom, human rights and the basic concept that country’s of the world should work together to build a more peaceful, prosperous and stable world order.”
President Higgins said Ireland ran a campaign which did not avoid the global problems.
He believes the campaign engaged with issues “such as peace-building and peacekeeping, the elimination of global poverty, the strengthening of multilateralism, and reform of the United Nations”.
He added: “The work of a dedicated team has been recognised and I congratulate them on having brought what was a principled campaign, in a competitive environment, to fruition and success.”
Meanwhile, Concern CEO Dominic MacSorley said: “Ireland now has a real opportunity to be a progressive voice of solidarity with the people who are caught up in conflict around the world.”
The Government has spent €840,000 over the last three years on the campaign.
