Ireland has been elected to a seat on the United Nations Security Council. The 15-member council's goal is maintaining international peace and security. Ireland successfully secured 128 votes, which is two-thirds of the majority needed to qualify. Voting took place at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday (June 17).

Ireland and Norway beat out Canada in its bid for a seat, making this only the second time Canada has failed to secure a seat over the last ten years. While it was expected that Norway would gain a seat, it was a pleasant surprise that Ireland secured the votes. The five permanent members of the council include: China, France, Russia UK and US.

PRIDE

The term, which lasts two years, will begin in January. “We are a small country that has a big presence and is a force of good,” said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in a statement. He also mentioned that Ireland was the only nation in the EU vying for a seat, and that this could have been a factor in the vote.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney said on Twitter:

So proud of my country. Thank you to everyone for the honour of being elected to the UN Security Council @irishmissionun @UN

— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) June 17, 2020

Samantha Power – the Former US ambassador to the United Nations – was born in Ireland and congratulated the nation on its campaign.

Goal’s chief executive Siobhan Walsh said: "[the result] speaks to our ambition as a nation to meaningfully contribute to the global community, while representing an acknowledgement by other nations of Ireland’s unique offering to the world”.

KEEPING THE PEACE

Ireland has a long history of contributing to UN peacekeeping, and has been involved in various missions since 1958. The country is recognised as an honest broker in the international arena, adept at conflict resolution. The campaign's main theme was “Empathy, Partnership and Independence."

President Michael D. Higgins said that the campaign for the vote “engaged with global issues, such as peace-building and peacekeeping, the elimination of global poverty, the strengthening of multilateralism, and reform of the United Nations.”

The council will be facing decisions on escalating international tensions, not to mention the lasting impact of COVID-19. The rise of global nationalism means that this council remains a crucial asset to foreign policy.