Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended a decision for Ireland to seek a seat on the United Nations' Security Council.

The Taoiseach said it was part of Ireland's commitment to multilateralism.

Speaking during Leader's Questions in the Dáil he said that nothing had lifted more people out of poverty that free trade and free enterprise.

He added Ireland wanted to bring that "vision and voice" and that was the backdrop to the decision to seek a seat on the Security Council.

He was responding to Independent TD Maureen O'Sullivan, who said the decision to seek a seat had put Ireland's neutrality "under threat."

She said there was a "litany of failures on the Security Council to make the world more secure".

Ms O'Sullivan also asked what Ireland was risking for a seat on the Security Council.

The Government formally launched a bid for a two-year term on the council - to begin in 2021 - last summer.