The United Nations (UN) is at the heart of Irish foreign policy, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said today at a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of Ireland's UN membership.
Speaking at a parade in McKee Barracks, also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and Defence Forces Chief of Staff Jim Sreenan, Mr O'Dea said that, over the course of those 50 years, Ireland's support for the UN had been unwavering and the organisation was "needed now more than ever".
Backing UN Secretary General Kofi Anna, the Minister said it was important that regional organisations, such as the EU, help the UN to respond rapidly to crisis situations.
"Ireland supports the Secretary General in his desire to see more effective and speedy UN responses and will continue to do all it can to assist and aid the United Nations in this," he said.
Mr O'Dea called participation by the Irish Defence Forces in UN peacekeeping operations "the most visible and tangible expression of our membership" and remembered the 85 Irish soldiers who have lost their lives in UN missions since 1958.
More than 50,000 Irish soldiers have served abroad on peacekeeping missions, and troops are currently serving in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.
Earlier this year, An Post issued four commemorative stamps to mark the 50th anniversary of Ireland's membership, three featuring defence force and Garda personnel and the fourth Frederick H Boland, who was Ireland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1956 to 1964.