OSCE chairmanship - Is this just a diversion?

There was a time as a new young nation when our membership of international bodies, like the League of Nations, was important to our sense of national self-esteem.

We did punch well above our weight in metaphorical terms.

Yesterday Ireland assumed the chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which seeks to address protracted conflicts as well as promoting Internet freedom and strengthening co-operation between the 56 members states of the OSCE. It should be stressed that the previous Fianna Fáil-led coalition secured the OSCE appointment.