Tánaiste to attend UN High Level Week 2025

Tánaiste Simon Harris has warned this is a time “of unprecedented stress” on the multilateral system but that UN High Level Week offers a chance to engage with all countries to resolve global issues.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is travelling to New York today to attend United Nations High Level Week.

The theme of this year’s General Assembly is: “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights”, emphasising the importance of multilateralism in the negotiation of peace and towards building a shared future.

This year, Ireland is marking 70 years of UN membership and the Tánaiste will use the opportunity to highlight Ireland’s commitment to the rules-based international order and effective multilateralism. During his meetings, the Tánaiste will highlight the conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan.

The Tánaiste said: “Multilateralism is at the heart of Ireland’s foreign policy. It is rooted in our deep commitment to the work of the UN. I am delighted to have the opportunity to travel to New York on the 80th anniversary of the UN, and the 70th anniversary of Ireland’s membership, to reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to the UN, the SDGs and to the reform of multilateralism.

“At a time of unprecedented stress on the multilateral system, UN High Level Week offers the opportunity to engage with like-minded partners and, vitally, with partners with whom we don’t agree in order to try and resolve global issues.

“I will meet with partners to discuss a range of issues, in particular the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza and the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages and humanitarian access at scale, our continued efforts to end Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the situation in Sudan, which continues to deteriorate causing untold suffering for the Sudanese people.”

The Tánaiste will attend a number of high-level events and hold a number of bilateral meetings with UN leaders and other foreign ministers. On Monday, the Tánaiste will launch Ireland’s candidacy for election to the Human Rights Council for the term 2027 – 2029. He will also attend an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

On Tuesday, the Tánaiste will attend the opening session of the UN General Assembly and address an event on the LGBTIQ+ rights. On Tuesday evening, he will meet Irish community leaders and host an event for the New York - Irish community in Ireland House, New York.

On Wednesday morning, the Tánaiste will meet Foreign Ministers of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. That afternoon, he will speak at the Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two State Solution High Level Meeting of Foreign Ministers. Ireland is a member of the core group leading this diplomatic initiative. The group will have a role in the implementation of the outcomes from the High Level Conference on Palestine and the Two State Solution held at the UN in July 2025 and the outcome of the Leaders’ level meeting of the Conference at the start of High Level Week.

ENDS

Press Office

21 September 2025