Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade launches Ireland: A voice among the nations

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, T.D., will launch ‘Ireland: a voice among the nations’ at the Royal Irish Institute on Wednesday 27 November 2019.

The book marks 100 years of Irish foreign policy, since the first Dáil met in January 1919. Ireland had a foreign policy and a diplomatic service before there was an internationally recognised independent state.

Speaking ahead of this evening’s launch Tánaiste Simon Coveney said:

“Ireland: A voice among the nations provides a wonderful insight into the evolution and history of Irish foreign policy. At the heart of this publication are the people who have worked tirelessly since the foundation of the state to promote Irish values and interests throughout the world. The publication covers a broad range of themes, from the early years of the new State’s international engagement to the declaration of a Republic in 1949, from Ireland’s admission to the UN in 1955 to our entry into the EEC in 1973 and the outbreak of the Troubles, from the growing importance of cultural diplomacy to the expanding role of women in shaping Irish diplomacy.

“The book reminds us that we can look back with pride at our achievements in engaging, influencing and shaping global ideas. Looking to the future, we will continue to invest in our international presence through our Global Ireland strategy, drawing on the experience of the past 100 years as we continue to project our values and promote our interests in the 21st century.”

ENDS

• Ireland: A voice among the nations is a richly illustrated book tracing 100 years of Irish foreign policy, since the first Dáil met in January 1919. In this decade of centenaries, this richly illustrated publication traces the evolution of Irish foreign policy, from the tentative steps taken at the Paris Conference in 1919 to the ambitious projection of Ireland’s values and interests in the Global Ireland Strategy and strong candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council in 2021.

• This timely publication provides an insight into how a small state such as Ireland has engaged with the wider world, by examining how Irish diplomats and politicians responded to the challenges presented by the upheavals of the twentieth century. In particular, it sheds light on how Ireland navigated difficult periods such as World War II and the outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland. It also records Ireland’s leadership on the world stage during the State’s first 100 years, in areas such as security, defence, peacekeeping and humanitarian interventions.