Ireland marks 50 years since becoming a member of the United Nations.
On 14 December 1955, Ireland joined the United Nations. A temporary thaw in the Cold War allowed Ireland, along with 16 other countries, to become a member of the UN.
Over the past 50 years, Ireland has held a seat on the UN Security Council three times. To mark 50 years of membership, a special meeting was held between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. They discussed conflict prevention and compromise. Kofi Annan praised Ireland's role with the UN over the past 50 years.
Ireland has a lot to offer. We are dealing with issues that Ireland knows a lot about.
A lunch, hosted by the Glucksman Foundation, attended by diplomats and ambassadors from other UN member states, was held to mark the occasion. Speaking at the event, Dermot Ahern said that the role of the UN in getting countries together to deal with international problems has been a cornerstone of Ireland's foreign policy. He anticipates that Ireland will continue to play a big role in the UN over the next 50 years.
One of the greatest contributions by Ireland has been the thousands of Irish troops who have served in UN peacekeeping missions. This began with the Congo in 1960. Irish peacekeepers have also spent 23 years in Lebanon. Eighty-five Irish troops have died while on UN missions. Members of An Garda Síochána have also served with the UN in Namibia and elsewhere. At present, there are over 700 Irish troops in Liberia and Kosovo.
On the diplomatic front, Frederick Boland served as President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1961 to 1962 and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson served as High Commissioner for Human Rights.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 30 November 2005. The reporter is Robert Shortt.
