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Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) ssrsi.org | UKRISON: UK and Republic of Ireland School of Neuroscience schoolofneuroscience.com |
The foreign relations of Ireland are substantially influenced by its membership of the European Union, although bilateral relations with the United States and United Kingdom are also important to the country. It is one of the group of smaller nations in the EU, and has traditionally followed a non-aligned foreign policy. Ireland tends towards independence in foreign policy, thus it is not a member of NATO and has a longstanding policy of military neutrality. This policy has helped the Irish Defence Forces to be successful in their contributions to UN peace-keeping missions[citation needed] since 1960 (in the Congo Crisis) and subsequently in Cyprus, Lebanon and Bosnia and Herzegovina.[dubious ]
[edit] United StatesMain article: Ireland–United States relations The Irish Embassy in Washington D.C.. U.S. president George W. Bush accepts a bowl of shamrock from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during a ceremony celebrating St. Patrick's Day in 2005. The use of Shannon Airport as a stop-over point for US forces en-route to Iraq has caused domestic controversy. Opponents of this policy brought an unsuccessful High Court case against the government in 2003, arguing that this use of Irish airspace violated Irish neutrality.[1] Foreign direct investment by U.S. companies is vital to the Irish economy — the U.S. is Ireland's largest source of foreign investment[citation needed], and exports to the U.S. amounted to 10% of GDP in 2005.[2] The large Irish-American population in the United States strengthens ties between the two countries. The U.S. government has appointed a Special Envoy to Northern Ireland to help with the Northern Ireland peace process. As of 2006[update], this position is held by Paula Dobriansk. Areas of interest between the U.S. and Ireland include the Northern Ireland peace process, the status of Irish illegal immigrants in the U.S.[3] and investment by U.S. companies in Ireland. As of 2008[update], Michael Collins was the Irish ambassador to the United States, and Thomas C. Foley was the U.S. ambassador to Ireland. [edit] United KingdomMain article: British–Irish relations Since independence, Ireland had been involved in a dispute with the United Kingdom over the status of Northern Ireland. Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland formerly claimed Northern Ireland as a part of the "national territory", though in practice the Irish government did recognise the UK's jurisdiction over the region. From the onset of the Troubles in 1969, the two governments sought to bring the violence to an end. The Sunningdale Agreement of 1973 and the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 were important steps in this process. In 1998, both states signed the Belfast Agreement and now co-operate closely to find a solution to the region's problems. Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland were amended as part of this agreement, the territorial claim being replaced with a statement of aspiration to unite the people of the island of Ireland. As part of the Belfast Agreement, the states also ended their dispute over their respective names: Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Each agreed to accept and use the others' correct name. The Irish Government has sought, with mixed success, to prevent the importation of weapons and ammunition through its territory by illegal paramilitary organisations, for use in their conflict with the security forces in Northern Ireland. In the 1970s the Irish warship, the LÉ Ciara intercepted a ship carrying weapons from Libya which were probably destined for the republican paramilitaries. Law enforcement acts such as these additionally improved relations with the government of the United Kingdom. However, the independent judiciary blocked a number of attempts to extradite suspects between 1970 and 1998 on the basis that their crime might have been 'political' and thus contrary to international law at the time. Ireland is also a party to the Rockall continental shelf dispute that also involves Denmark, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. Ireland and the United Kingdom have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area. However, neither have concluded similar agreements with Iceland or Denmark (on behalf of the Faroe Islands) and the matter remains under negotiation. Iceland now claims [1] a substantial area of the continental shelf to the west of Ireland, to a point 49°48'N 19°00'W, which is further south than Ireland. The controversial Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in western England has been a contentious issue between the two governments. The Irish government has sought the closure of the plant, taking a case against the UK government under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. However, the European Court of Justice found that the case should have been dealt with under EU law.[4][5] [edit] EuropeIreland is consistently the most pro-European of EU member states, with 77% of the population approving of EU membership according to a Eurobarometer poll in 2006.[6] Ireland was a founding member of the euro single currency. In May 2004, Ireland was one of only three countries to open its borders to workers from the 10 new member states. EU issues important to Ireland include the Common Agricultural Policy, corporation tax harmonization and the EU Constitution. The Irish electorate declined to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon in the summer of 2008 after a short and uninformed campaign. After the voters had been given a clear exposition of the issues, a second referendum in October 2009 passed the bill, allowing the treaty to be ratified. As of 2009[update], Dick Roche is Minister of State for European Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Ireland has held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on six occasions (in 1975, 1979, 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2004) and is scheduled to hold the presidency again in 2013.
[edit] Taiwan and People's Republic of ChinaIreland's official relationship with the People's Republic of China began on 22 June 1979.[38] Following his visit to China in 1998, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern authorised the establishment of an Asia Strategy.[39] The aim of this Strategy was to ensure that the Irish Government and Irish enterprise work coherently to enhance the important relationships between Ireland and Asia.[39] By 2004, China (including Hong Kong, Taiwan[dubious ] and Macau) had become Ireland’s 7th largest trading partner.[40] Ireland has raised its concerns in the area of human rights with China on a number of occasions. On 12 May 2007, during a visit to Beijing, Taoiseach Brian Cowen (then Minister for Finance) discussed human rights issues with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.[41] Tánaiste Mary Coughlan also raised human rights issues and concerns with visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan.[41] Ireland also participates in the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. Concerning the Taiwan issue, Ireland follows a One-China policy. In 2007, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern summarised the Irish position as follows:[42]
The following satement was issued by Dermot Ahern, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs' Department on Taiwan and Cross-straits relations on 12 March 2008:
The Minister's emphasis on the One China policy and to the Taiwan issue being best settled through dialogue "between the parties concerned" was consistent with Beijing's wish that the Taiwan issue be regarded as a domestic one between Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. In other arenas, the Irish government follows a strict One China policy. For example, when the Department of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory concerning the SARS outbreak, it advised individuals not to travel to "parts of China (i.e. Beijing, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Shanxi, Taiwan Province)".[44] [edit] Americas
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[edit] United NationsThe United Nations was founded in 1945, but Ireland's membership was blocked by the Soviet Union until it joined in 1955.[2] Since 25 July 2007, the Irish ambassador to the UN Office at Geneva has been Dáithí Ó Ceallaigh.[69] Ireland has been elected to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member on three occasions — in 1962, in 1981-1982 and most recently in 2001-2002.[70] Ireland is a member state of the International Criminal Court, having signed the Rome Statute in 1998 and ratified it in 2002.[71] [edit] Peacekeeping missionsIreland has a long history of participation in UN peacekeeping efforts starting in 1958, just three years after joining the UN. As of 2006[update], 85 members of the Irish Defence Forces had been killed on peacekeeping missions.[72] List of major peacekeeping operations:[73]
As well as these missions, Irish personnel have served as observers in Central America, Russia, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Namibia, Western Sahara, Kuwait and South Africa.[72] [edit] International organisationsIreland is a member of or otherwise participates in the following international organisations:[74]
[edit] Foreign aidIreland's aid program was founded in 1974, and in 2006 its budget amounted to €734 million. The government has set a target of reaching the Millennium Development Goal of 0.7% of Gross National Product in aid by 2012, a target which is projected to amount to €1.5 billion based on current GNP growth.[75] Irish development aid is concentrated on eight priority countries: Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda, Vietnam and East Timor.[76] in 2006, Malawi was announced as the ninth priority country, with a tenth country to follow.[77] As of 2009[update], Peter Power was the Minister of State for Overseas Development at the Department of Foreign Affairs. [edit] Human rightsThere have been no serious civil, human or social rights abuses/problems in the State, according to Amnesty International and the U.S. State Department.[78][79] The country consistently comes among the top nations in terms of freedom and rights ratings.
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