The Secretary General of the 46-member Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will pay an official visit to Ireland on Friday 24 April.
“Ireland was one of the founding members of the Council of Europe and has consistently played a key role in helping to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law across the continent,” said the Secretary General ahead of the visit.
“In this challenging period, it is more important than ever that we join forces, guided by our shared values, to reinforce Europe’s democratic security, defend the international rule of law and manage migration, in addition to ensuring accountability for Ukraine.”
Geopolitics to the fore in talks
During the visit, Secretary General Berset will meet Ireland’s President, Catherine Connolly, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan, and Thomas Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and at the Department of Defence.
Discussions are expected to focus on recent geopolitical developments, including conflict in the Middle East, the importance of democratic security in the face of significant challenges to the international rule of law, and the Council of Europe’s priority work in support of Ukraine.
On-going negotiations towards a political declaration on issues related to migration and the European Convention on Human Rights will also be discussed, ahead of the forthcoming meeting of Council of Europe foreign ministers in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, on 15 May.
During the visit, the Secretary General will also take part in a meeting with civil-society organisations chaired by Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Secretary General Alain Berset
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The impact of the European Convention on Human Rights in Ireland
