YouSaid · the spoken record

Mawe

lines on the record: 141
first: 2014-06-11
most recent: 2017-05-25
sittings or episodes: 18
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We also need to address issues such as rapid deployment, improved intelligence and performance assessment. We need to ensure effective command and control arrangements, which underpin the success and the credibility of operations. The United Nations also needs to seek ways to develop internal capacities - for example, in terms of police, courts and local authorities - so that conflict- affected countries, including in Africa, can build and sustain peace themselves. Those are issues that apply to all peacekeeping operations, but as I mentioned already, the balance of operations in Africa means they apply there in full. The successful implementation of increasingly complex mandates means that neither the United Nations nor individual Member States can work alone.”
2014-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7343 (2014) · source
“In making our contribution to the review, we will draw on our own considerable experience of peacekeeping and our strong commitment to the United Nations in addressing how peacekeeping needs to evolve to meet the new demands. We will be conscious in particular of the need to ensure that the protection of civilians is at the heart of mandates for peacekeeping operations. We also need more consistent and systematic application of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on the same subject and to address the root causes of why women and girls are so disproportionately affected by conflict. We need to ensure that peace operations in Africa and elsewhere have the capabilities to protect civilians and the participating troops themselves.”
2014-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7343 (2014) · source
“We previously discussed United Nations-African Union (AU) cooperation in July (see S/PV.7228). In resolution 2167 (2014), adopted during that debate, the Council requested the Secretariat and the African Union to undertake a lessons learned exercise on the transitions from AU to United Nations peacekeeping operations in Mali and the Central African Republic. We look forward to learning of its findings. Looking more widely, Ireland welcomes the establishment of the High-level Independent Panel to Review Peacekeeping Operations, led by Jose' Ramos- Horta, and looks forward to active engagement with it in the coming months, especially when it considers the question of cooperation with regional organizations.”
2014-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7343 (2014) · source
“Today, more than half of the peacekeeping missions and just over 80 per cent of peacekeeping troops are deployed in Africa. In addition, almost 50 per cent of the more than 100,000 peacekeepers currently deployed by the United Nations are from African countries. Furthermore, some of the most challenging missions the United Nations is currently undertaking are in Africa - in Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Such missions highlight the changing nature ofpeacekeeping, and they provide a serious test of how we carry out peacekeeping missions. The contributions from African countries to those demanding missions are also evident, including, for example, from Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi to the decisive Intervention Brigade of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2014-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7343 (2014) · source
“Ireland joins with all other speakers and wholeheartedly condemns the tragic killing of schoolchildren and others in Pakistan today. In the words of my minister, it was an attack of savage brutality that targeted innocent children in their place of study. I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and those of the Irish people to the families of the victims and to the people and the authorities of Pakistan. Permit me to also thank the Chadian presidency for organizing this important debate. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations with regard to peace operations is a subject of key importance, and I welcome the opportunity to provide Ireland's perspective. I would also like to align myself with the statement delivered just moments ago on behalf of the European Union (EU). This subject is a significant one.”
2014-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7343 (2014) · source
“We all have an interest in taking practical steps to improve the way in which the Council does its business and in order to enhance its effectiveness.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“The main challenge now is implementation, and we commend efforts which seek to strengthen this triangular relationship. All States Members of the United Nations have a legitimate stake in how the Security Council is run; the Council was established, after all, to ensure prompt and effective action on behalf of the full membership. I think that the fact that the Council has been discussing this topic since 10 o'clock this morning shows that this is an issue that matters to the entire membership. In that regard, on conflict prevention, and across a broad range of topics, Ireland, together with the ACT Group, will continue to work for constructive and cooperative engagement with Council members.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“Ireland welcomes the initiative by France for a voluntary code of conduct on the use of the veto in mass atrocity situations. Ireland encourages permanent members to agree to a statement of principles on a voluntary code of conduct by the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, next year. Finally, as a significant peacekeeping troop contributor, we are strongly of the view that a dynamic, interactive and meaningful partnership between Council members, the Secretariat and troop- and police-contributing countries is of benefit to all. Presidential note 630, adopted this time last year, joined a substantial existing acquis on peacekeeping working methods, which go a significant way towards enhancing the quality of the interaction and consultation with troop and police contributors.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“We saw this recently in the case of the Central African Republic, and we welcome the growing transparency and interactivity by the Council in holding these meetings. We also welcome the suggestion by the former High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, at the August open debate on conflict prevention (see S/PV.7019) that her successor would regularly and routinely provide an informal briefing to Council members on situations of concern in order to strengthen early warning. Ireland believes that the unfettered use of veto rights by permanent Council members inhibits the effectiveness of the Council and needs to be reconsidered. The veto is not and cannot be viewed as a privilege, but, rather, it brings particular duties and a special responsibility to resolve conflict.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“There have been a number of practical initiatives aimed at strengthening the Council's preventive role, including the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa, the introduction of horizon-scanning briefings and, more recently, the increased use of informal discussions with the Department of Political Affairs, as well as the use of "any other business" to raise emerging issues of concern. Ireland welcomes these initiatives as well as the adoption of resolution 2171 (2014), on 21 August, which strengthens existing acquis on the Council's preventive role. But more needs to be done to develop a genuine culture of prevention. Innovative formats such as Arria Formula meetings can trigger fresh thinking on the dynamics of a conflict and inform the necessary response.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“Today we wish to highlight three key aspects of working methods which we believe are of particular importance to the effectiveness ofthe Security Council: sharpening the Council's preventive role; the use of the veto; and strengthening engagement with countries contributing troops and police to peacekeeping operations. For us, it is clear that the Council needs to enhance its preventive capacities and needs to be alerted as early as possible to potential crises, so that appropriate action can be taken. Current experience reveals a Council that frequently finds itself responding to crises in an incremental manner, escalating the tools at its disposal as situations deteriorate. Better outcomes can be achieved where the Council's tools are utilized much earlier.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“Ireland commends Argentina for organizing today's debate and for its effective chairing of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. The Group has been particularly active this past year, with the adoption of five presidential notes. I also wish to thank both the ICC prosecutor and the Al-Qaida sanctions Committee Ombudsperson for her briefing today. Ireland aligns itself with the comprehensive statement delivered by the representative of Switzerland on behalf of the 23 members of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group.”
2014-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7285Resumption1 (2014) · source
“The challenge before us is to translate that consensus into effective actions. At a minimum, what the world needs is strong leadership from a united Council behind the preventive instruments at its disposal. That requires a common resolve on the part of those seated around this table and the full support of all United Nations Members.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“It marks the tenth anniversary of the 2005 World Summit, when the international community renewed its commitment to promote a culture of conflict prevention. The year 2015 will also be a watershed, with the negotiation ofa successor framework for the Millennium Development Goals and a stronger linkage between good governance, the rule of law and sustainable development. Those milestones present opportunities for the United Nations system to get its act more together and strengthen its resolve to prevent conflict. Ireland looks forward to actively contributing to those processes. There is broad consensus on the merits and utility of a culture of prevention that allows us to identify crises before they transform into armed conflict, with the resulting human and material costs.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“To that end, we encourage more informal exchanges among Council members on emerging threats and more horizon-scanning. More fundamentally, the unfettered use of veto rights by permanent Council members also inhibits the effectiveness of the Council and needs to be reconsidered. On the positive side, as underlined by High Commissioner Pillay this morning, we welcome the increasing recognition of the correlation between severe human rights violations and threats to international peace and security. In that regard, the Secretary- General's Rights Up Front Action Plan, which puts the focus on human rights, is particularly welcome. If we look ahead, 2015 will be an important year for the United Nations system.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“The Court was set up to ensure accountability, but, while the Council has an inescapable responsibility in that regard, too often we find it unable or unwilling to act. A sense of impunity can lead to prolonged conflicts and result in the loss of more innocent lives. Looking more locally, I would like to briefly mention aspects of the Council's working methods. There is a need for more efficiency and effectiveness in how the Council operates. The resolution adopted last week (resolution 2170 (2014)) on the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and the Al-Nusra Front shows that measures can be taken more quickly, but it should not take a crisis of that nature to provoke rapid action. In some ways, when issues reach the Council agenda, it is already too late. We therefore need to get out in front of emerging issues.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“Fourthly, special political missions, while often deployed after a conflict has erupted, play a key role in advancing political dialogue and other peacebuilding tasks. A Council that can act more quickly might deploy special political missions much earlier. Fifthly, parties who refuse to comply with their international commitments need to be made fully aware of the consequences. Where that is not evident or understood, entrenchment and stalemate can ensue, leading to the types of frustration that Council members expressed during their visit to South Sudan last week. At the institutional level, the successful operation of the International Criminal Court offers a vital tool for accountability that bolsters conflict prevention because of its deterrent effect.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“Intensive diplomatic efforts using the good offices of the Secretary-General, his senior envoys and United Nations staff in the field have been and can continue to be effective in bringing parties back from the brink of conflict. That is most effective when backed by the wider international community. Thirdly, there has been a concerted effort by the United Nations to optimize the use of mediation as a tool to prevent conflict, which we strongly welcome. The recent adoption of General Assembly resolution 68/303 paved the way for closer partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations. We have long seen merit in the active role that regional organizations, with their proximate understanding of conflict in their own geographical area, can play in mediating or facilitating dialogue between parties.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“First, central to an effective system of conflict prevention is awareness of the situation, the ability to analyse the relevant information and the political will to take action when needed. In this day and age, there is generally no shortage of information - sometimes quite the opposite. However, we need to analyse it better, draw conclusions sooner and then take the right decisions. Early warning, as the Secretary-General said, is effective only when acted upon, and that is the collective challenge before us all here today. There are too many unfolding tragedies where we can no longer say "but we didn't know". Secondly, we need vigorous, sustained diplomacy where conflict is brewing.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“As the concept note (S/2014/572, annex) points out, the Security Council has a range of preventive tools under Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations that can prevent the escalation of disputes into full-blown crises. We need to think now about how to enhance the Council's ability to make better use of those tools. Otherwise, we will continue to measure the results in the form of the increased loss of life, growing insecurity and greater human misery. In addition, almost by default, we will continue to saddle costly peacekeeping missions with more and more responsibilities. Let me touch upon some of the preventive measures at the disposal of the Council.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“Ireland commends the United Kingdom for its initiative in scheduling today's discussion, and the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for their insightful briefings on this topic. Ireland associates itself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union. Every day in this Chamber, we bear witness to the costs of the failure to prevent conflict. Too often, the United Nations finds itself scrambling to respond to crises, including some that could have and should have been forestalled. The scale of the crises and their duration mean that we cannot continue with business as usual. A paradigm shift is needed to rebalance the current trend. We have to get ahead of the curve.”
2014-08-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7247 (2014) · source
“We can expect that partnerships will feature as a prominent theme in the review of peacekeeping announced by the Secretary-General on 11 June. Ireland looks forward greatly to making a positive, meaningful contribution to the review, be it in support to a particular area of policy development or in some other way. And we look forward to continuing to make our contribution to various peacekeeping partnerships.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Nationally, Ireland makes a significant contribution to the training of African security forces, both through participation in EU missions in Somalia and Mali and on a bilateral basis, in which we have helped to train Ugandan police in community policing and the South Sudanese police in conventional munitions disposal, landmine clearance and specialist search awareness. We also provide training for modest numbers ofAfrican military and police personnel at our United Nations training school in Ireland. And we are pleased to support the elaboration of United Nations standards for peacekeeping operations as part of the United Nations military units manuals project, and to provide expertise for the Working Groups on military police and special forces. We are certainly in a time of partnerships; indeed, we have been for quite some time now.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“We welcome the progress made in this area between the AU and the United Nations in Somalia; the joint planning between the Economic Community of West African States and the AU on Mali; and the current coordination between the AU and the United Nations on the transfer of authority in the Central African Republic between the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Regional and subregional organizations, either because of a lack of resources or the absence of collective will, have also at times shown themselves unable to act decisively. We strongly support all efforts to enhance cooperation between the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations. Effective AU-EU- United Nations triangular cooperation will be critical to successful peacekeeping operations in future years in Africa. On the specific issue of planning, we also agree strongly on the need to improve joint planning.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“But we also acknowledge that AMISOM, as a contingent-led mission, poses particular coordination challenges, and that the presence of the two missions, United Nations and AU, demands heightened coordination if political and strategic coherence is to be achieved. Given the evident political commitment, African rapid-response or surge capacity also clearly holds promise. The development of African regional standby brigades is a welcome initiative, particularly in a frustrating context in which others have proved very reluctant to use their own rapid-reaction capabilities. But we must also be honest enough to recognize some important general constraints. While missions from the region offer the promise of greater acceptance, they can also pose a risk of partisanship.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“We have seen the commitment of South African, Tanzanian and Malawian troops in the decisive Force Intervention Brigade of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And we readily acknowledge the sacrifice of the soldiers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), including troops from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia. AMISOM. has stayed the course when a force from outside the region might well not have done so. It also undertakes tasks, such as offensive and counter-terrorist operations, that the United Nations does not do.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“It was designed to showcase the improvements that have been made in recent years, while also exploring ways to address some outstanding challenges, including ensuring high-quality leadership, improving mission planning, ensuring accountability and minimizing national caveats. And so we could not agree more with the message of the President's concept note (S/2014/478, annex) for today's debate, to the effect that effective command and control of operations underpins both their success and their credibility. Turning to Africa, today there are many ways in which African organizations, regional and subregional, can contribute to peace operations. Two notable ones are through high-intensity operations and surge capacity. African willingness to pursue high-intensity operations in Africa is incontrovertible.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“In terms ofinternational peace and security, for us that is the paramount strategic partnership. The exit of many European States from the International SecurityAssistance Force offers theprospectofabroader European return to United Nations peacekeeping. As a Member State that has maintained a consistent presence in United Nations peacekeeping operations, we are pleased to encourage and facilitate this development in any way we can. That is one reason why, this month, my delegation convened a panel discussion on command-and-control arrangements in United Nations peacekeeping.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Some regional organizations offer the potential for responding rapidly; others provide critical niche capabilities, and through its participation in EU- and NATO-led missions, Ireland has seen first-hand the success of regional partnerships in peacekeeping from both perspectives. But it is essential that a commensurate capacity exist or be created to ensure that mandates delivered by regional organizations are delivered effectively. That is why, to give just one example, predictable and sustainable financing is so crucial to ensuring the success of African Union (AU) peace operations. The real challenge in nurturing strategic partnerships remains the delivery of political and operational results. Ireland is a long-time and prominent supporter of closer EU-United Nations cooperation in peace operations.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“The growing participation of regional and subregional organizations is a significant development, and was the theme of a successful seminar hosted by Ireland during our presidency of the EU last year. In our eyes, greater regional participation is a very welcome development. It is a concrete expression of the sharing of a collective security burden. More regional involvement can mean that more local and regional expertise and understanding can be made available. It can mean greater regional ownership, responsibility and commitment to addressing security challenges.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“We warmly welcome your initiative in scheduling today's debate, Mr. President. It provides a timely opportunity for considering the evolution of regional partnerships in support of United Nations peacekeeping. My remarks will focus on two main areas - cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union (EU), and United Nations- African cooperation. At the outset, I should say that Ireland aligns itself with the statement made by Mr. Popowski on behalf of the EU and its member States Under-Secretary-General Ladsous recently described peacekeeping as being in a time of partnerships. Certainly, the collective enterprise that is peacekeeping involves the cultivation of a network of different partnerships - partnerships between Member States, the United Nations system, host Governments and, increasingly, regional organizations.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“It is important that that conversation on adjusting multidimensional mission mandates involve representatives of development agencies from the broader United Nations family. We look forward to contributing further to this important reflection on the nature of United Nations peacekeeping and to seeing how these policy areas can be strengthened and developed.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Ireland is pleased to support the development of common standards relating to military police and special forces, but, realistically, some hard choices need to be made on just what can be expected of United Nations missions. The Security Council should replace vague, aspirational mission mandates with mandates with a clear purpose tempered by achievable and realistic ambition. The recent work to refocus the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and to reallocate to it resources from other United Nations missions in the region is a welcome step in the right direction. Given the scarcity of resources, there is also a clear case for moving to downsize or close some long- standing missions.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“An Irish and UNDOF force fully equipped with equipment to counter improvised explosive devices would be better able to protect itself and the civilian Syrian population from the threat posed by such devices. The second, most striking change in United Nations peacekeeping is the dramatically increasing range of responsibilities and tasks with which United Nations missions are charged. Mission mandates have grown longer and more complex, particularly in terms of institution- and State-building. Meanwhile, resources have not increased in line with the increasing demand. There are a variety of ways to try to square that circle, including by increasing flexibility and innovation in relation to resources for missions, improving common standards and building strategic partnerships.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“It is sobering to remember that, to date this year, 37 persons serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions have been killed. We are convinced of the clear benefits offered by modern technology and high-tech equipment, notably the sharply increased situational awareness offered by unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles. Such tools and other technologies act simultaneously to strengthen the mission in delivering its mandate and to increase force protection. Nationally, with over 130 members of our defence forces currently serving on the Golan with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), Ireland is acutely aware of the imperative of strengthening force protection.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Higher-intensity peace enforcement also brings sharply into focus the imperative of having United Nations command-and-control arrangements that are fit for purpose, with decisive leadership, well- resourced planning and the reduction and elimination of national caveats and restrictions. Ireland is pleased to be organizing a panel discussion on 3 July at United Nations Headquarters to continue this important conversation and to consider the significant progress made to date and the challenges outstanding on command and control. A second point resulting from operating in less secure environments concerns the safety of peacekeepers. We owe it to our service personnel, who are deploying into increasingly dangerous environments, to have them as well equipped as possible.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Impartiality does not mean having to adopt a neutral equidistance between two or more parties - in this case, Government forces and non-Government armed groups. Rather, impartiality is about implementing a mandate in a fair-minded and unbiased manner. It is a fundamental misreading of the nature of United Nations peacekeeping to see more proactive and robust targeting of armed groups aimed at protecting vulnerable civilians as in any way incompatible with the United Nations mission. However, there is no doubt that more robust peace operations can work only if undertaken so as to deliver clear political goals and as part ofa broader stabilization strategy.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Two of those developments stand out: more robust peace enforcement, undertaken in certain circumstances, and a more comprehensive and ambitious approach to institution- and State-building. In 2000, Lakhdar Brahimi wrote that there can be no peacekeeping unless there is a peace to keep. Changes in the nature of conflict, however, mean that United Nations forces increasingly operate in less secure environments. In a small number of specific situations - for example, in eastern Democratic Republic ofthe Congo - the United Nations has sought to be more proactive in how it protects the civilian population by supporting targeted offensive operations against armed groups. Such robust operations do not, in our View, have any impact on the impartiality of United Nations peacekeeping.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“We see peacekeeping as a crucial instrument in maintaining and ensuring peace, preventing conflict and giving the necessary space and support to countries emerging from conflict to enable them to develop and grow. We therefore dearly wish to see a United Nations peacekeeping that is smart, fit for purpose and well-resourced to meet the high demands we place on it. Those demands only continue to grow. The reality is that, in recent years, peacekeeping has evolved to such an extent that the term itself scarcely describes the range and nature of activities undertaken in its name. Today's debate is well informed by the concept note (S/2014/384, annex), which, above all else, calls for a more systematic and joined-up approach to justifying and elaborating the new trends in peacekeeping.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source
“Adapting to meet radically new and different environments and challenges, United Nations peacekeeping is in the process of undergoing significant change. We warmly welcome Russia's scheduling of today's debate, which provides a timely opportunity to consider the new trends in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Ireland aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union and its member States. Ireland has a strong and distinguished record in peacekeeping, with unbroken service in United Nations missions since our first deployment in 1958, including the appointment of an Irish national as head ofa United Nations mission on 12 occasions.”
2014-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7196 (2014) · source