President Michael D Higgins has addressed the United Nations 'Summit of the Future' in New York.
The two-day event, aimed at reforming the UN, will focus on issues relating to global hunger, poverty and debt.
President Higgins' speech addressed the growing inequality in the world and the failure of the UN to address the issues facing the world, including the hunger and debt burden borne by the poorest nations.
In his speech, the President focussed on the poverty, hunger and debt burden borne by the world's poorest nations.
He called on world leaders not to become "desensitised to the daily loss of life," or ignore, he said, existential challenges like climate change or the arms race.
President Higgins criticised what he claimed as the "abuses of power" that he said had undermined the UN since its foundations.
Asked by RTÉ News at the news conference following his speech what abuses of power he was referring to, President Higgins said he meant the countries of the Security Council which have used their veto to block UN action.
Russia has vetoed council votes on Ukraine and the United States has used its veto to shield its ally Israel from council action.
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The summit adopted a "Pact for the Future", which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as a landmark agreement that is a "step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism."
The agreement came after some nine months of negotiations.
Mr Guterres long-pushed for the summit and the pact, which covered themes including peace and security, global governance, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations.
The plan lays out some 56 broad actions that countries pledged to achieve.
Read more: Wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan to dominate UN General Assembly
Global crises have spotlighted the need for UN reform and overhauling international financial systems.
These challenges include ongoing wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan: lagging climate change mitigation efforts; widespread national debt issues; and concerns over technology advancing without governance.
During the negotiations phase, the UN Secretary-General had urged nations to show "vision" and "courage," calling for "maximum ambition" to strengthen international institutions that struggle to respond effectively to today's threats.
Developing countries have been particularly vocal in demanding concrete commitments on the reform of international financial institutions, aiming to secure easier access to preferential financing, especially considering the impacts of climate change.
The pact and its annexes are non-binding, raising concerns about implementation, especially as some principles such as the protection of civilians in conflict are violated daily.
"Now it is our common responsibility to walk through it. That demands not just agreement, but action. I challenge you to take that action," Mr Guterres said following the adoption.
As well as the president, Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin will also be in New York this week to attend the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Harris said his focus would be on "the grave situation in the Middle East".
"The immediate priority of the international community must be an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal," he said.
The Taoiseach will also hold talks on the conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.
