Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Peter Power has highlighted the plight of the kidnapped Goal workers in Sudan during Ireland's annual address to the UN General Assembly in New York.
He expressed the Government's gratitude to the UN and others who have helped in the efforts to secure the release of Sharon Commins and Hilda Kuwuki in Darfur.
The women have been held captive since the 3 July.
Mr Power expressed the Government's fervent hope that the day of their release from captivity is not far off.
He said the UN must collectively continue working to promote the UN-African Union mediation in Darfur, to support full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to ensure that justice and the defence of human rights prevail throughout Sudan.
During his speech Mr Power emphasised how 'there has never been a greater need for the United Nations'.
He called for greater action on food security describing as a collective failure the fact that 1bn people go hungry every day.
The minister called on all sides in the Middle East to honour their commitments and obligations under the Road Map, including real efforts to halt all settlement activities and improve the living conditions of civilians on the ground in the Palestinian territories.
On Iran, Mr Power urged its government to respond to the demands of the international community and 'answer satisfactorily all questions regarding its nuclear activities', particularly in light of the latest revelations regarding a previously undisclosed second nuclear site.
The minister also renewed the Government's calls for the immediate release of the imprisoned Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and all other political prisoners in Burma.
