Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF IRELAND PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Paul Kavanagh, the new Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Prior to his current appointment, from 2006 to 2007, Mr. Kavanagh served in Geneva as Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, World Trade Organization and International Offices.  From 2004 to 2006, he was his country’s Ambassador to the European Union’s Political and Security Committee in Brussels.

From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Kavanagh held the position of Deputy Political Director at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.  From 2001 to 2002, he served as political coordinator of Ireland’s delegation to the United Nations Security Council.  Prior to that, from 1998 to 2000, he was the deputy coordinator of Ireland’s campaign for election to the Security Council at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Kavanagh held the post of Director of the United Nations Office in Tokyo.  From 1992 to 1996, he served as senior political advisor for the United Nations Operation in Cyprus.  In other United Nations assignments, Mr. Kavanagh served as Special Assistant to Cyrus Vance, the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for the former Yugoslavia, from 1991 to 1992.  From 1983 to 1992, he worked in the Secretary-General’s Cabinet in New York. 

Mr. Kavanagh held various positions from 1977 to 1983 in Ireland’s Foreign Service, including at its Embassy in Beijing from 1979 to 1982.  From 1977 to 1978, he was the Executive Officer of Ireland’s Defence Department.

Mr. Kavanagh holds a bachelor’s degree in modern history and French from University College Dublin. 

Born on 12 March 1956, Mr. Kavanagh is married with two sons.

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