Martin To Address UN Assembly

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin will be speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York today, delivering Ireland’s annual address.

Mr Martin is expected set out Ireland’s foreign policy agenda and international issues of concern for the next 12 months.

His speech will be given during the 65th annual Ministerial Week at the UN, when each country is invited to participate.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Martin said: “The United Nations offers a unique voice and an indispensable framework for the international community which we should cherish and continually work to improve, so as to realise its full potential.

“Ireland, for its part, will continue to look to the United Nations as best placed to lead the drive for more effective multilateralism as well as for guiding all our common endeavours in pursuit of a more peaceful, prosperous and secure world.”

During his visit to the UN the minister also held talks with Ireland’s key trading partners and governments which share the same approach to world affairs.

Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern is to meet his counterparts from Scotland and Northern Ireland to discuss security and crime in the three jurisdictions today.

Human trafficking, organised crime gangs and approaches on how to reduce reoffending will also top the agenda at the summit in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Mr Ahern is hosting the first trilateral meeting with Scottish cabinet secretary for justice, Kenny MacAskill, and the Northern minister for policing and criminal justice, David Ford.

A spokesman for Mr Ahern said the ministers will discuss criminal justice matters, taking account of the similar issues facing each of their jurisdictions and the need for the closest possible cooperation between them.

(DW)



(DW/BMcC)