YouSaid · the spoken record

Geraldine Byrne Nason

lines on the record
366
first
2021-01-05
most recent
2021-09-30
sittings or episodes
53
sources
un-security-council

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  1. “Looking ahead, we call for the upcoming elections in 2021 to be held in a peaceful, democratic and fully inclusive manner. We also call on UNOWAS to continue employing its good offices and, as Mr. Chambas has done today, to keep the Security Council informed on developments in Guinea-Bissau. Finally, we often hear rhetoric in the Security Council about regional organizations and their contribution to peace and security. Today I would like to recognize the excellent contribution of UNOWAS to regional cooperation. The challenges facing the region can be successfully addressed only through leadership from the region.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  2. “Voting is important, but we want to see women in councils, in Parliaments and in Governments, so that no effort should be spared in ensuring that women not only cast their ballots but are also on the ballot paper. As co-Chair with Mexico of the Women and Peace and Security Group, we will do everything possible to reinforce that when we can. Any election-related violence can have a chilling effect on democratic engagement. Ireland regrets the election-related violence that took place in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, which resulted in tragic loss of life. We see that as simply unacceptable. We need to learn lessons, both positive and negative, from the recent elections. Ireland applauds and supports the ongoing and critical work of UNOWAS in contributing to democracy and peaceful upcoming elections in the region.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  3. “We see that as leading to issues such as increased farmer-herder conflict as well as to an erosion of social cohesion. We support the call by the Secretary-General to ensure that all parties work to integrate current and projected climate-related threats into all conflict-prevention efforts in the region. Ireland and the Niger will work together to ensure the capture and analysis of that threat. Before continuing, I want to salute the perseverance of voters in West Africa amid challenging circumstances. I see that as a clear sign of their commitment to democracy. I welcome that the participation levels of women in elections have been strong, but frankly there remains a big gap. We need to see women at the decision- making tables, ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the political process.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  4. “Let us face facts: we know from our own lived experience that peace and stability cannot be achieved through an approach focused solely on security. Ireland supports UNOWAS in promoting a holistic and integrated approach to addressing instability in the region that addresses root causes. That is the correct approach. Supporting sustainable and inclusive development must be at the heart of national, regional and international efforts. We must act to promote good governance, the rule of law, human rights and the strengthening of democratic institutions. I would like to highlight one important challenge. There is little doubt that the adverse impacts of climate change are having a pernicious and negative impact on security in West Africa and the Sahel.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  5. “We are concerned by the significant levels of violence, including intercommunal conflict and terrorist activity. The Council has a duty to support enhanced national and regional capacities to address security in the region, including that of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task Force. We know that resources are needed to support that work. Respect for human rights and accountability for violations and abuses are an essential part of resolving conflict and putting an end to it. We strongly endorse the emphasis in the Secretary-General’s report on the role that national human-rights institutions can play in assisting security and law- enforcement institutions in carrying out their important roles.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  6. “Ireland condemns, in the strongest possible terms, any attack on humanitarian workers, who are there to provide life- saving assistance to those in need. Those responsible must be held accountable. It is clear the humanitarian and socioeconomic consequences of the coronavirus disease are further exacerbating the already challenging situation in the region. We call on international partners to provide requisite support and ensure that everyone in Africa receives fair and equitable access to the vaccines. We all know that is a basic question of solidarity. We also know that no one is safe until everyone is safe. The security situation in West Africa is complex. Insecurity in the Sahel and Lake Chad basin continues to be particularly worrisome.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  7. “We know from our own experience the transformative power of education to drive development and unlock the potential of individuals and entire societies. That is especially true for adolescent girls. Education will allow them to become the next leaders, peacebuilders and change-makers. Today we condemn the reprehensible attacks on schools that have taken place in the region in recent months. We call for investment in education in the region and for it to be prioritized, and for schools to be safeguarded everywhere. Frankly, we have also followed with concern the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the region over the past six months. We call on all parties to support humanitarian action, respect humanitarian principles and facilitate the delivery of essential aid to those most in need.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  8. “We will work assiduously with the rest of the Council over the next two years on our shared priorities: building peace and democracy; promoting regional solutions to cross-cutting threats to peace and security, including climate change; and promoting good governance, the rule of law, human rights and gender issues. I take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to Ambassador Abarry and the people of the Niger following the reprehensible attacks that recently claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the Tillabéri area. As co-penholder, we look across the entire region and want to start off by focusing on one area of importance, to which Ireland hopes to draw attention: that of youth and education, also highlighted today by Special Representative Chambas. We were delighted to hear Mr. Chambas emphasize that point.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  9. “At the outset, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Chambas, for his briefing. Ireland fully supports the work of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). We commend the Special Representative for his Office’s important work over the past six months, as detailed in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/1293). Ireland is delighted to take on the role of co-penholder, together with the Niger, of this important file. The priorities we have set for our term on the Security Council — promoting peace, supporting conflict prevention and ensuring the principle of responsibility — are also central to the UNOWAS mandate.”

    2021-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/43 (2021) · source

  10. “Syria’s own actions have brought us to this point, and the Syrian authorities have the responsibility to act immediately to meet their obligations under the CWC. As a State party to the Convention, we believe that Syria is bound to eliminate, in its entirety, its chemical-weapons programme and to cooperate actively, openly and in good faith with the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW. In concluding, I can only echo the heartfelt and sincere sentiments expressed by the High Representative, at the end of her remarks this morning, that we start 2021 on a more hopeful note.”

    2021-01-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/22 (2021) · source

  11. “The OPCW Executive Council in July made clear the actions that Syria needs to take to return to full compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. Ireland co-sponsored that decision. We deeply regret Syria’s lack of any real and meaningful response to that request. In April, the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention will meet in The Hague. States parties will then have to decide on the necessary course of action. Ireland will support the use of all measures available under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to ensure Syria’s compliance. Ireland also strongly supports the European Union’s chemical-weapons sanctions regime, which includes listings related to chemical-weapons use in Syria. Let us be clear.”

    2021-01-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/22 (2021) · source

  12. “The Mechanism and now the Investigation and Identification Team have attributed responsibility for use of chemical weapons in some instances to the Syrian authorities. For Ireland, all of this makes clear the ever more urgent need to fully resolve remaining issues. Only the OPCW, in our view, has the expertise to do this. And in this, we know that we are in good hands. As Director-General Arias set out last month, OPCW investigation teams are made up of highly qualified experts in their own field who can independently assess, analyse and cross-check information that they have independently collected, as well as that which they receive from numerous sources, including the Syrian Government. That is done to ensure the strongest grounds for any conclusion reached.”

    2021-01-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/22 (2021) · source

  13. “Over those seven years, the number of issues that need to be addressed has expanded from five to 19. There have been 17 amendments to Syria’s declaration, including the addition of a production facility and four research and development centres, and a doubling of the amount of declared agents and chemicals. There are also issues relating to hundreds of tons of missing agents and munitions reported destroyed prior to accession, which still cannot be verified. As the most recent reports have set out, there is also another issue related to a production facility, declared as never having been used, where there is clear evidence to the contrary. Since Syria’s initial declaration, the Fact-Finding Mission and the Joint Investigative Mechanism have investigated and reported on the use of chemical weapons in Syria on numerous occasions.”

    2021-01-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/22 (2021) · source

  14. “As Director-General Arias made clear to the Council last month (see S/2020/1202, annex II), the OPCW Technical Secretariat has spared no effort over seven long years to assess Syria’s initial declaration and to assist Syria to complete it. We find it deeply disturbing that, after seven long years of effort, it is still not possible to assess Syria’s initial declaration as either accurate or complete, given that there are gaps and inconsistencies in Syria’s account of its chemical-weapons programme. Ireland fully supports the work of the Declaration Assessment Team, the Fact-Finding Mission and the Investigation and Identification Team in addressing chemical weapons and their use in Syria. I want to be clear today that the problems in the initial declaration are not a minor issue, as some would portray it.”

    2021-01-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/22 (2021) · source

  15. “We find that the marked increase in the use of chemical weapons in recent years is deeply disturbing. This shows for us that the framework against the use of those deadly weapons may well be under threat, and I think that every one of us sitting here today in this meeting has a responsibility to address that threat. The Council must be clear on the need to ensure accountability and put an end to impunity in the use of those appalling weapons at any time, anywhere. Ireland certainly will work tirelessly with our Council colleagues to do that. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), given its diligence, impartiality and professional analysis, is crucial. We find that is truer now than ever.”

    2021-01-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/22 (2021) · source

  16. “I thank you very much indeed, Mr. President, and I offer you congratulations on assuming your presidency. You know that you will have the full support of the Irish delegation throughout your month and an excellent programme of work. I can say also that we are thrilled, as a new member, to take up our position here as an elected Security Council member. I also thank Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu very much for her excellent briefing. We know that the Council addresses this subject every month, and some of the arguments we have already heard, indeed, they may be ones that we feel we know. But I want to say for the first time at the Council table that Ireland regards this as a really important debate. My country unequivocally condemns any use of chemical weapons at any time, anywhere, under any circumstance.”

    2021-01-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/22 (2021) · source