Ireland to seek nomination to Human Rights Council

IRELAND will step up its continued support of human rights globally, as it seeks election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Taoiseach announced.

Enda Kenny also moved to mend troubled relations with the Vatican yesterday, by welcoming the Pope’s New Year speech for World Day of Peace.

Mr Kenny said if elected to the UN body, Ireland would back measures by the council aimed at tackling abuses globally.

“This is a commitment and an engagement that we take with the utmost seriousness and that is why, this year, for the first time, Ireland is seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council,” Mr Kenny said.

“If elected, Ireland would support clear and strong action by the council in addressing human rights violations and in promoting universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

In his New Year’s Day statement, Mr Kenny said that at home and abroad, Ireland was at the fore of promoting peace, justice, security and development.

Mr Kenny was speaking in response to the message and statement of Pope Benedict XVI for the 45th World Day of Peace, based on the theme of Educating Young People in Justice and Peace.

Mr Kenny welcomed the Pontiff’s message, which comes after a difficult spell in relations between Ireland and the Vatican.

In the Dáil last year, Mr Kenny delivered an unprecedented attack on the Catholic Church over the damning Cloyne report.

The Government was later criticised for pulling its embassy out of the Holy See, a move some claimed was retribution for the Vatican’s limited response to the report into clerical child sex abuse.

Mr Kenny yesterday praised Ireland’s support of human rights globally, while also highlighting the importance of the Pontiff’s message.

“Through our participation in the European Union, in our ongoing commitment over many decades with a process that has lead to peace on our island, and by our strong engagement with the peacekeeping forces of the UN, the Irish people have demonstrated an instinctive respect for peace, justice and human rights,” he said.

“It is absolutely right that these values are transmitted to the next generation.

“It is the case also that the honour and duty of passing on those values falls to those formally charged with the education of our young and beyond that the whole of society,” he said.