Your Excellency Mr. Enda Kenny, Prime Minister of Ireland, the Taoiseach,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure and honour for me to pay an official visit to Ireland. I thank the Irish Government and people for their warm welcome.

I was deeply honoured to have travelled to Ireland to receive the Tipperary International Peace Award. It was equally a privilege to deliver the Iveagh Lecture at Dublin Castle yesterday.

I would like to reiterate my congratulations to the Government and people for 60 years of dynamic membership in the United Nations.

Ireland has been a steadfast supporter of peacekeeping and an important contributor across the global agenda, from development and disarmament to human rights and conflict prevention.

Today, Ireland’s support is more needed than ever.

During this visit I have had good meetings with the President, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Defence Minister and the Justice Minister. I saw some of the outstanding training that Irish peacekeepers receive, as well as the support that Ireland provides in resettling people who have fled some of the world’s conflict areas, including Syria and Afghanistan.

Taoiseach Kenny and I just had a constructive meeting, as was explained by the Prime Minister.

We had an in-depth discussion on the post-2015 development agenda negotiation process that Ireland is so effectively co-facilitating by Ambassador David Donoghue of Ireland, together with his counterpart from Kenya.

2015 is a crucially important year for action on development and climate change. Ireland is a valuable partner in our efforts to eradicate poverty, hunger and inequality. I especially appreciate the tremendous efforts made by Ireland to continue official development assistance, despite the difficult economic situation.

Taoiseach Kenny and I also talked about peacekeeping, human rights, and the growing challenge of migration and refugee protection. I highly commend such compassionate leadership of Taoiseach Kenny with regard to the resettlement of many refugees who are in need of such help. We need a comprehensive approach to this challenge that looks at the roots and protects human rights.

Let me also congratulate the people of Ireland on the result of the marriage equality referendum, which was taken last week. The United Nations, through its Free & Equal campaign, will continue its efforts to promote human dignity for all.

Thank you again for Ireland’s wide-ranging support. The ties between Ireland and the United Nations remain fruitful and strong. I look forward to our continued partnership in seizing the opportunities of this important year and in building a better future for all.

Thank you.