Published on Monday19thSeptember2016

Minister Flanagan to address United Nations General Assembly in New York

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Minister Flanagan with Ireland’s UN Youth Delegates Samantha O’Brien O’Reilly and Colm O’Rourke

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan today begins a busy programme of engagements in New York where foreign ministers from around the world have gathered for the United National General Assembly.  During his visit, Minister Flanagan will address the United Nations General Assembly and meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Speaking ahead of his departure for the UN, Minister Flanagan said:

Ireland is particularly active in both UN peacekeeping and in tackling hunger and poverty.  In my address to the UN General Assembly, I will highlight the fact that conflict and deprivation are key drivers of the current migration crisis.  The community of nations needs to work together to address the root causes of migration and the UN has a critical role to play in this regard.  Today’s migration crisis resonates with Ireland’s own sad history of emigration and I will be emphasising the need for the international community tackle the root causes of the migration crisis, rather than focus on addressing the symptoms of the problem. 

For the second year, the Minister’s delegation will include UN Youth Delegates.  Minister Flanagan stated:

Many of the challenges being discussed this week are not going to be resolved overnight. We must always look towards the future of our influence in world affairs, and active and engaged young people will be central to Ireland’s continued contribution to issues such as peace and security, human rights and development. In this context, I am delighted to add that we will have in our delegation only our second-ever UN Youth Delegates, Samantha O'Brien O'Reilly from Meath and Colm O’Rourke from Dublin.