Migration is key for Security Council bid
Varadkar launches irish effort for seat on vital un body
LEO Varadkar has referenced his own roots and Ireland’s history of migration as part of the formal bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.
The Taoiseach officially launched his pitch alongside Bono and Mary Robinson at the John Behan emigration sculptures at the global body’s headquarters in New York.
Mr Varadkar was also joined by Tanaiste Simon Coveney, Defence Minister Paul Kehoe, Diaspora Minister Ciaran Cannon and a host of other dignitaries.
The Taoiseach said: “Throughout much of our history, we left our home shores to voyage elsewhere – whether as political emigres, economic migrants, missionary educators or humanitarian workers.
“We became connected to the wider world through our people, and we have renewed and strengthened those bonds through our involvement in the United
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Nations. Ireland has also welcomed people from around the world to our shores. My own family’s history is testament to that.
“We have now become a country of net immigration – and we welcome that. Migration has strengthened our economy and enriched our society and culture.” Earlier in the day, Mr Varadkar was at the Bono and The Edge in New York UN Peace Bell to officially lay a wreath commemorating the 88 Irish that have died while on active service with the UN.
Speaking to an audience including Irish veterans, the Taoiseach paid tribute to the 70,000 Irish soldiers that have served in the 60 years we have been sending troops to Un-mandated missions.
He said: “We accept obligations that arise from being part of the world community.”
Mr Varadkar added there is no suggestion of the bid being a Government vanity project when the priorities should be fixed on domestic problems.
The Taoiseach said: “This is where decisions are made about where our peacekeepers might serve.
“It’s where decisions are made on sanctions and even on occasion where decisions are made on whether or not the world should go to war, so there is no vanity here, this is serious stuff.” MARY Robinson has predicted Ireland’s battle to secure a seat at the UN Security Council in 2021 will be our toughest yet.
We are up against
Norway and Canada, two UN heavyweights, to win two out of three seats in our region next time out.
Mrs Robinson said this time we really have “our work cut out,” but she praised the “soft power stroke” of bringing 152 of 192 delegate nations’ ambassadors to the U2 concert in Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.