Ireland has consistently been at the forefront of upholding international rules-based order, the ceremony marking the start of the country’s EU presidency has heard.
European Council President António Costa made the comment during his address at the event at Dublin Castle, reports RTE.
Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months, during which the country will host hundreds of EU meetings and visits by leaders from the bloc, starting next week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew into Dublin to take part in the formal ceremony, at the start of which the Ukrainian flag was hoisted alongside the flags of the union’s 27 member states, reports RTE.
Mr Costa’s speech focused on the “three pillars” of Ireland’s presidency: values, competitiveness and security.
He was met with applause when he said Ireland has “consistently been at the forefront” of the effort to uphold the “principles at the core of international rules-based order,” reports RTE.
These, he said, “must guide our work for peace and security in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in the Strait of Hormuz, and across the wider Middle East, and of course they must also remain at the heart of efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
He also addressed the housing crisis, saying the issue will be a “key focus” of the Irish presidency and adding: “We must tackle this multi-layered crisis together, and your leadership will be crucial to making progress,” reports RTE.
Political leaders, diplomats and ambassadors attended the formal ceremony.
Alongside Government ministers were Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, as well as former taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Palestinian ambassador to Ireland Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, reports RTE.
In his remarks, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that “few events in Ireland’s history had been so transformative” as Ireland’s accession to the EU, adding it has “helped us grow our economy, invest in our communities and supported social changes.”
He said: “Holding the presidency is an honour and a responsibility, and we are ready to give it our all,” reports RTE.
Addressing countries in the process of trying to join the EU, he said: “We are determined to take you as far down that path as we can.”
Music and the arts featured heavily in the ceremony, with the Irish and European anthems performed by the Dublin Youth Choir and the Defence Forces Band, reports RTE.
Irish actress Ruth Negga read Séamus Heaney’s poem Beacons At Bealtaine, which was commissioned when Ireland hosted the Day of Welcomes to celebrate the accession of 10 new member states to the EU in May 2004.
Other acts included leading Irish traditional musicians and vocalist Tolu Makay, who sang a rendition of Dreams by The Cranberries, reports RTE.
In his speech, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the presidency “marks a moment for Ireland to serve, to lead, and to step up, and it marks a moment for the European Union to reflect on what we have achieved together and on what we must do next.”
Echoing the Taoiseach, he said membership of the EU was “the single best decision we have taken since our decision to become an independent nation,” reports RTE.
He added: “This presidency won’t just be a presidency for governments or institutions or politicians alone.
“It will be a presidency for people, for the people of Ireland, for the people of Europe,” reports RTE.
It is the eighth time Ireland has held the presidency, last doing so in 2013.
An Garda SÃochána said a policing and security operation will remain in place at Dublin Castle for the duration of the presidency, reports RTE.
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