Foreign Policy
The constitution of Ireland affirms Ireland’s strong commitment to the ideal of peace and friendly cooperation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality. Ireland’s foreign policy is based on this conviction.
As a small country in a changing world, Ireland remains firmly committed to collective approaches to international relations and security based on the primacy of the charter of the United nations. Key principles underlying this commitment are respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law. Ireland seeks to pursue these core objectives in cooperation with regional and bilateral partners and through its membership of international organisations, in particular its membership of the United nations and of the European Union.
United Nations
Ireland joined the United nations (Un) on 14 December 1955. Within the UN, Ireland has sought to promote effective international action on global issues such as disarmament, peace-keeping, human rights and development. Ireland’s most recent term on the UN Security Council in 2001–2002 reinforced its commitment to working with the wider UN membership for international peace and security. This commitment is reflected in the continuous participation in UN peace keeping operations by Irish Defence and Police Forces since 1958. Our commitment to the UN is also reflected in the substantial contributions Ireland is making to UN Funds and Programmes. Ireland is also a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court, established by the international community through the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998.
European Union Membership
Ireland joined the European Economic Community (EEC) on 1 January 1973 and has participated actively in the evolution of what is now the European Union (EU). EU membership is pivotal to Government policy. It is a central framework within which the Government pursues its foreign policy objectives. Ireland’s membership of the European Union is rooted in an understanding that the Union is the cornerstone of political and economic stability in europe. Ireland has held the six-month rotating Presidency of the council of the European Union on six occasions, in 1975, 1979, 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2004. The 2004 presidency was widely praised internationally and saw the accession of ten new Member states to the European Union: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
On 1 January 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became the latest states to accede to the EU, increasing the total number of Member states to 27.
Irish Aid
Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s official programme of assistance to developing countries. The Irish Aid programme is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Ireland has had an official development assistance programme since 1974. It has grown steadily over the years from modest beginnings and is now approximately €670 million per year. The Government is committed to reaching the United Nations target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The Irish Abroad
More than one million Irish citizens are currently living abroad, and it is estimated that as many as 70 million people worldwide can claim Irish descent. Our largest emigrant communities have consistently lived in Britain and the United States. Irish citizens have also been an influential presence in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Southern Africa.
The high priority and value that the Government attaches to the diaspora is reflected in the substantial funding it provides to support Irish community, cultural and heritage projects across the world. Supporting a wider range of initiatives across a greater geographic range than ever before, the Government actively recognizes the tremendous contributions the Irish abroad continue to make, both to Ireland and to their adopted countries.
