Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

135. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his recent meeting with the President of the United States. [41729/23]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I had the opportunity for a short conversation with President Biden at the reception he hosted, together with First Lady, Dr Jill Biden, for Leaders attending United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.

I updated him on developments in relation to Northern Ireland, including recent British legislation on legacy cases, setting out our deep concerns on its implications; and on efforts to restore the institutions under the Good Friday Agreement. I thanked him for his continuing interest in the peace process, including his appointment of Joe Kennedy III as Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland.

As on previous occasions when we have met, the President was well-informed and offered his assistance, and that of his Administration, whenever it would be helpful.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

136. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his recent meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. [41730/23]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I had a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on 18 September while in New York for UN General Assembly high-level week.

The Secretary General thanked Ireland for its strong and sustained support for the United Nations as the core of rules-based international order.

We discussed the Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals which we had both addressed earlier that day, and we agreed the urgent need for the global community to redouble efforts to achieve the Goals by 2030. As I said in my address, while we are clearly not where we would wish to be at this half-way point, with the necessary drive and leadership we can still reach the targets we have set ourselves.

The Secretary General and I also discussed Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, including Russia’s decision to pull out of the Black Sea grain initiative which the SG had helped to put in place. We agreed that this was particularly damaging for the worlds’ vulnerable people who are already experiencing food insecurity. We also agreed the importance of holding those responsible for war crimes to account.

The Secretary General spoke about the UN Summit on the Future to be held next year, and I agreed with him on the need for reform to make the UN, including the Security Council, more reflective of today’s world. I offered Ireland’s support and assistance in advancing this work.

I took the opportunity to recall the tragic loss of Private Sean Rooney and the importance to his family and colleagues of establishing the full facts of the case.