Written answers

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ministerial Meetings

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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351. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent visit to the United Nations General Assembly. [35347/15]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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352. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on any bilateral meetings and discussions he held while attending the United Nations General Assembly. [35348/15]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 352 together.

Between September 26 and October 1 2015 I visited New York to take part in UN Ministerial Week. During this time, I addressed the 70th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, setting out Ireland’s foreign policy priorities.

While in New York, I also attended a number of UN-related events and meetings and also held a range of bilateral meetings with ministers and senior representatives from Bolivia, Cuba, Lebanon, Mozambique, New Zealand, Palestine and the United States.

This year is the 60th anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the United Nations, which I presented to the General Assembly as an opportunity for stock-taking and reflection on Ireland’s long engagement with the world’s principal body charged with international peace, security, development and human rights. I launched a special anniversary exhibition on Ireland’s First Years at the United Nations (1955-1957), which then went on display at UNHQ and will be officially launched in Dublin in December. This exhibition is part of a wider programme of events and projects planned to mark the 60th anniversary.

My meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recalled his visit to Ireland in May of this year. The Secretary General referred in particular to Ireland's role in co-facilitating the newly agreed Sustainable Development Goals and the ongoing contribution of Irish staff to the work of the UN. We also discussed the current migration crisis and Ireland's commitment to UN peacekeeping operations.

I also attended a number of high-level events, including a Summit on UN Peacekeeping Operations convened by President Obama, a meeting with EU Foreign Ministers during which the Syria crisis and Middle East Peace Process were discussed, a meeting convened jointly by the EU and Jordan on the humanitarian consequences of the Syria crisis, an event hosted by my Finnish counterpart on the post-2015 Agenda and an event on countering terrorism and violent extremism hosted by President Obama. I participated in an awareness- raising event around nuclear disarmament with my counterparts from South Africa, Mexico and Austria. Participation in these events created valuable opportunities to advance Irish priorities across the areas of peace, security, development and human rights, the pillars of the United Nations.

During my meeting with Mr. Juan Carlos Alurralde, Bolivia's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, we discussed the Michael Dwyer case and also the potential to further develop bilateral relations between Ireland and Bolivia.

I also met with Mr. Malmierca Diaz, Minister of Foreign Trade of Cuba. We discussed recent developments in US-Cuban relations as well as the ongoing changes to the enterprise regime in Cuba. We also touched on the potential for greater cultural, political and professional exchanges between our two countries.

In my meeting with Mr. Gebran Bassil, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, we discussed Ireland's recently passed Marriage Equality Referendum and our engagement with the Irish diaspora. We also discussed Ireland's support for UN peacekeeping, including UNIFIL in Lebanon and the ongoing migration crisis in the Middle East, resulting from the Syrian conflict .

When I met Mr. Oldemiro Julio Marques Baloi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mozambique, we discussed recent violent incidents in Manica Province as well as the prognosis for the Mozambican peace process. We touched on bilateral cooperation in the areas of agriculture, health and energy as well as the support provided through Irish Aid to Mozambique.

With Mr. Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, we discussed Ireland's economic recovery, the UN and New Zealand's relations with the EU. I also discussed with Mr. McCully the scope for cooperation between the agricultural sectors of our countries.

In my meeting with Mr. Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, we discussed the current situation in Jerusalem, and the issue of international recognition of Palestine. Mr. al-Maliki also provided an update in terms of the progress that has been made towards hosting Palestinian elections.

My meeting with Ms. Victoria Nuland, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs focused principally on the Northern Ireland Peace Process, with bilateral and international issues also being discussed.

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