Taoiseach to highlight importance of peace in Palestine and Ukraine to Irish people during UN trip

The Taoiseach is one of nearly 130 world leaders to jet into New York to address the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week

Taoiseach Micheál Martin: 'My focus this week will be on working with world leaders to collaboratively tackle the global challenges which affect us all including in Ukraine, the Middle East, support for humanitarian aid globally, and the climate crisis.'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will highlight the importance of peace in Palestine and Ukraine to the “Irish people” during his visit to New York and address to the United Nations.

Mr Martin will start the first day of this three-day trip to New York today as part of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High Level Week. Mr Martin will also meet with New York mayor Zohran Mamdani during the trip.

The Taoiseach is one of nearly 130 world leaders to jet into New York to address the week-long event. Mr Martin will make Ireland’s national address on Thursday evening, or in the early hours of Friday morning Irish time.

He is expected to attend several meetings relating to developments in the Middle East, including a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the Two State Solution, and an event hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney and UK prime minister Andy Burnham to mark a year since the New York Declaration and the Comprehensive Peace Plan.

The Taoiseach will also hold a number of bilateral meetings with other world leaders, including with the UN Secretary General António Guterres, who is marking his final High Level Week ahead of the end of his term of office in December.

On Thursday, Mr Martin will deliver the National Statement to the United Nations General Assembly.

In addition to the events at the United Nations, the Taoiseach will also meet with community members at the New York Irish Centre and meet with Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“My focus this week will be on working with world leaders to collaboratively tackle the global challenges which affect us all including in Ukraine, the Middle East, support for humanitarian aid globally, and the climate crisis,” Mr Martin said.

“Achieving progress towards a lasting peace, and a dramatic upscaling of urgent aid for Palestine are priorities for Ireland, and I look forward to meeting with leaders from the region and beyond to progress this.

“The Government and people of Ireland are clear on the huge importance of this, and UNGA presents an opportunity to seek real progress.” 

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Mr Martin also said that he will also discuss Russia’s “ongoing illegal invasion” of Ukraine with other world leaders, and discuss what can be done to bring peace to the region.

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee started her UNGA programme in New York yesterday, hosting an event on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, in partnership with the Malala Fund.

It included contributions from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and the Malala Fund, alongside Afghan women leaders.

Energy minister Darragh O’Brien, junior fisheries minister Timmy Dooley, and Neale Richmond, minister of state for international development and aid, are also in New York.

UNGA High Level Week convenes world leaders in New York each September, with leaders all making 15-minute addresses amid growing conflict and unrest across the world.

US president Donald Trump arrived in New York last night ahead of his address to UNGA today.

During last year’s High Level Week, Mr Trump accused the UN of “triple sabotage” after the escalator he was standing on stopped moving, an autocue with his speech stopped working, and audio issues impacted the auditorium during his remarks.