UN General Assembly
2020

The Peacebuilding Commission has an essential role to play in this regard. Mr President, The Security Council is often criticised for its failure to prevent and resolve conflict. Sometimes, that criticism is justified. But we must also remember the successes. We have seen, for instance, the significant contribution that the Security Council and the wider UN system made to the peace process in Colombia, including the verification of the laying down of arms, clearance of ordnance, and the reintegration of former combatants. Peacekeeping missions such as UNIFIL and UNDOF — both of which have strong Irish participation - provide vital stability in volatile regions. Numerous peace agreements around the world have been brokered by the UN, with the active support of the Security Council. But we need to see more concrete outcomes, more often. That is what the Security Council was created to do. We must build the trust and political will necessary to achieve progress in even the most intractable conflicts. My primary focus today has been on Ireland’s forthcoming membership of the Security Council.