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Taoiseach Micheál Martin to address 75th annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will address the 75th annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday 26 September[estimated speaking time 19:30 IST] . This year UNGA is taking place remotely, with Heads of State and Government of 196 countries delivering their national statements in pre-recorded video message. 

 

The Taoiseach said,

This year’s United Nations General Assembly is meeting in the shadow of COVID-19.  The virtual format reminds us all of the need to keep our distance and limit our contacts; practices which are so simple but which have the power to help us arrest this deadly virus.

This pandemic has impacted every community in every country, and indeed our entire way of life.  It has taken its toll on society, particularly those who have lost loved ones, or who have contracted the virus themselves and are suffering from its lasting after effects.

However, COVID has also brought out an incredible motivation for people to work together to combat this fatal virus.  The pandemic reminds us that multilateral responses to global challenges remain essential. In an interconnected and interdependent world, even the strongest cannot succeed alone.

In less than four months’ time, Ireland will to take up a seat on the UN Security Council.  We join the Council with firm principles and clear priorities - Building Peace, Strengthening Prevention, and Ensuring Accountability.  These are at the heart of the Council’s mandate.

Ireland has a strong and proud record of UN peacekeeping and I am confident that we will be to the fore in promoting the core values of building and maintaining international peace and security”. 

 

The Taoiseach’s National Statement to UNGA 75 will be livestreamed on http://webtv.un.org/