Ireland Wins Seat on United Nations Security Council

[Ladybbird]

Ireland Wins Seat on United Nations Security Council for 2021 - 2022

Ireland will sit on the United Nations Security Council alongside 14 other UN member states for the 2021 - 2022 term.

Irish Central, 18 JUN 2020




Ireland has won another two-year term on the United Nations Security Council after a vote was held today in New York City. This is the fourth time Ireland has been voted onto the panel.

Ireland was in a pool with Norway and Canada for today's vote, which required a two-thirds majority of 128 votes to win. Ireland won 128 votes, Norway won 130, and Canada, who has now lost out on a panel seat, received 108.

Announcing today's news, Ireland's Mission to the UN said, "As a small country, we are used to punching above our weight" along with a picture of Irish Ambassador to the UN Geraldine Byrne-Nason with thumbs-up:





Ireland’s “mammoth” bid to win the coveted seat was launched back in 2018 and drew support from figures including President Michael D. Higgins, former President Mary Robinson, U2's Bono, and support was even shown at a performance of Riverdance at Radio City Hall in March.

According to the United Nations, its Security Council “has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

“It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

“The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.”

The UN Security Council consists of 15 members - five permanent members (France, Britain, the US, Russia, and China), and ten other temporary members who serve on rotating two-year terms. Ireland has previously served on the Security Council in 1962, 1981, and 2001.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney said he is “so proud" of Ireland today: