Ireland’s bid to gain a seat on the United Nations Security Council got off to a rocking start as more than 190 ambassadors were guests of Ireland at U2’s sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in New York last night.
The band, at the request of the Government, made available the tickets for the show which is part of the campaign to show off the best of Ireland.
The invitation was to coincide with the Government’s official launch of its bid to win a seat on the UN’s Security Council, which is being spearheaded by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Simon Coveney.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste travelled to New York yesterday ahead of an intensive 72-hour programme of events to launch the bid.
Thank you to @U2 - fantastic show tonight in New York, promoting Ireland and the @UN https://t.co/WB7ZPhS6Et
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) July 2, 2018
This evening, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste will officially launch Ireland’s campaign at UN headquarters with a special event celebrating Irish food, music, heritage and culture.
Former president of Ireland Mary Robinson and U2 lead singer Bono, two of the most recognisable Irish people in UN circles, will be present to support the Government’s bid.
More than 400 UN diplomats and other guests have been invited to attend the reception on the UN’s North Lawn, beside the ‘Arrival’ sculpture, by Irish artist John Behan, which was gifted to the UN by Ireland in 2000.
Two rotating seats on the council are up for grabs in 2021 and the Irish Government has its eye on one of them.
In the past, Ireland won two-year rotating terms on the Security Council in 1962, 1981, and 2001.
The vote will not take place until 2020 but a two- year campaign to lobby the other members begins today.
Under the UN rules, a two-thirds majority of 193 member states (or 129 votes) is required for election to the UN Security Council. Each member state — however big or small — has a vote.
Ireland is competing with Norway and Canada for one of the two seats available to the Western Europe and Others Group. There was some surprise at Canada’s late entry into the race.
Ireland, as the smallest country, is likely to spend the least on its campaign, which is estimated to cost about €1.5m.
The three main themes of Ireland’s bid are empathy, partnership, and independence.
The campaign will involve intensive engagement with all other UN members in New York and in their capitals, “to convince them of Ireland’s value as a candidate and what we bring to the UN”.
These efforts will be led in the first instance by Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Geraldine Byrne Nason.
I’m in New York with @simoncoveney to launch Ireland’s campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council. It’s a great opportunity to put Ireland at the heart of UN decision making & an important part of #GlobalIreland 2025 our plan to double the impact of our international presence pic.twitter.com/OUScmyfQBV
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) July 1, 2018
The Taoiseach said: "Winning a seat on the UN Security Council would place Ireland at the heart of UN decision-making on international peace, security and development.
"We will have a tough campaign on our hands over the next two years and we certainly don’t underestimate our competition, but I am confident that by putting our full support behind the campaign and by emphasising Ireland’s unique strengths and track record, we can succeed."
The Taoiseach will conclude his visit on tomorrow morning by meeting a group of business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs supported by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland at the New York Stock Exchange.
