Activities of Secretary-General in Ireland, 6-8 July

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his delegation arrived at Dublin Airport in the late evening of 6 July.

He began the workday on 7 July with a courtesy call to Irish President Mary MacAleese at “Áras an Uachtaráin”, official residence of the President in Dublin.

He then delivered an address on United Nations Peacekeeping, at Dublin Castle at the invitation of the Institute of International and European Affairs.  (See Press Release SG/SM/12357-PKO/215.)

Later, the Secretary-General was the guest of the Government at a working lunch with Prime Minister (“Taoiseach”) Brian Cowen and members of his Cabinet for discussions on Ireland’s contributions to the United Nations in peacekeeping efforts, as well as development aid, the fight against hunger and public health.  Both leaders then held a joint press encounter.

That afternoon, the Secretary-General visited Trinity College, the oldest higher learning institution in the country, where he toured the Long Room and viewed a display of the Book of Kell.

He then transferred to Leinster House, the seat of the Irish Parliament, for a meeting with its joint Foreign Affairs Committee, in which they discussed peacekeeping.

After that, he discussed climate change and the Copenhagen climate negotiations with Environment Minister John Gormley.

That evening, he was the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Micheál Martin at Iveagh House.

The next morning, the Secretary-General met with Minister of Defence Willie O’Dea and Defence Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Dermot Earley for further discussions on Irish contributions to United Nations Peacekeeping.

The official visit ended with a wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Irish peacekeepers who died in the service of the United Nations.  That event took place at McKee Barracks in Dublin.