Ireland completed a two-year term (2001- 2002) as one of ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly of the UN to serve on the Security Council. Ireland previously served on the UN Security Council in 1981-1982 and for one year in 1962.

On the occasion of Ireland's election to the UN Security Council, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., said "Ireland has always been committed to the UN Charter and its principles. The cornerstone of our campaign for election to the UN Security Council was the distinctive role we have played in areas of the UN such as peacekeeping, disarmament, human rights and development cooperation. Our commitment to these crucial areas will be carried through to our work on the Council."

Membership of the UN Security Council placed Ireland at the centre of decision-making by the body with primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. Ireland's day-to-day approach on the Security Council was guided during its two year term by the longstanding principles which have informed our UN policy since we joined in 1955. These include our peacekeeping experience, our focus on human rights and disarmament, and our highly respected development cooperation programme.

Conscious of the trust placed in Ireland by the members of the UN in electing us to the Security Council, Ireland fulfilled its election undertaking to remain engaged with and responsive to the concerns of the wider UN membership through regular contacts and briefings. During its term on the Council, Ireland contributed to the achievement of greater transparency and improvements in its working methods.We believe we were also able to demonstrate that small and medium-sized States can play a constructive role on the UN Security Council.

Below are a list of the statements made by Ireland during this Presidency.

18 December 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 864 (1993) concerning the situation in Angola 

10 December 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 

21 November 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Bougainville 

14 November 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the Situation in Timor-Leste 

8 November 2002 - Explanation of Vote by Ireland on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait 

6 November 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)

5 November 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the Final Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo

22 October 2002 - Statement by Ireland on strengthening of cooperation between the UN System and Central Africa in the maintenance of peace and security 

17 October 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait 

11 October 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Open Meeting on Small Arms 

4 October 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Debate on Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts 

26 September 2002 - Statement by Ireland at the Open Meeting of the Security Council on "Report of the Security Council to the General Assembly"

5 August 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Kosovo 

30 July 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Kosovo

25 July 2002 - Statement by Ireland on Women, Peace and Security 

24 July 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the situation in the Middle East 

19 July 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Afghanistan 

17 July 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the humanitarian situation in Angola 

10 July 2002 - Statement by Ireland on Bosnia and Herzegovina - International Criminal Court 

27 June 2002 - Statement by Ireland on Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts 

26 June 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Kosovo 

20 June 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the situation in The Middle East, including the question of Palestine

13 June 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine 

23 May 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Afghanistan 

20 May 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on East Timor 

26 April 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on East Timor 

24 April 2002 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Kosovo 

19 April 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine

15 April 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on threats to International Peace and Security caused by terrorists acts

8 April 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine 

3 April 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in the Middle East 

29 March 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine 

27 March 2002 - Statement by Ireland, at Public Meeting on Kosovo 

26 March 2002 - Statement by Ireland, at Public Meeting on Afghanistan

15 March 2002 - Statement by Ireland on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 

11 March 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the situation in Somalia 

6 March 2002 - Statement by Ireland on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia 

5 March 2002 - Statement by Ireland, at Public Meeting on Bosnia and Herzegovina 

26 February 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Question of Palestine 

13 February 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on the humanitarian situation in Angola 

30 January 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in East Timor 

29 January 2002 - Statement by Ireland on "The situation in Africa"

21 January 2002 - Intervention by Ireland, at Public Meeting on Kosovo

18 January 2002 - Statement by Ireland, on threats to International Peace and Security caused by terrorist acts 

21 December 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in Angola

14 December 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on the Addendum to the Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

5 December 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina 

27 November 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in Kosovo 

20 November 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on Children and Armed Conflict

15 November 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in Angola 

13 November 2001 - Statement by Ireland , on the situation in Afghanistan 

12 November 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on "Threats to International Peace and Security caused by terrorists acts"

5 November 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on Liberia

31 October 2001 - Statement by Ireland, on the situation in East Timor 

24 October 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the situation in the DRC

19 October 2001-Statement by Ireland on the situation in Somalia 

5 October 2001 - Statement by Ireland at the 4387th Meeting of the Security Council on Kosovo 

28 September 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the lifting of sanctions against Sudan 

21 September 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the situation in the Central African Republic 

30 August 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the DRC 

28 August 2001 - Statement by Ireland on Kosovo

20 August 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the Middle East, including the Question of Palestine 

2 August 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the Question of Small Arms 

30 July 2001 - Statement by Ireland on East Timor 

26 July 2001 - Statement by Ireland on Kosovo 

28 June 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Meeting on Sierra Leone 

26 June 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Security Council Open Debate on Iraq 

22 June 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Kosovo

21 June 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on the Prevention of Armed Conflict  

13 June 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

18 May 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Meeting on East Timor 

14 May 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Security Council Open Briefing on West Africa 

03 May 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Debate on Exploitation of Resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

23 April 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the Secretary General's Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 

05 April 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on East Timor 

22 March 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Formal Meeting on Bosnia-Herzegovina

16 March 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Debate on Kosovo 

15 March 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the Situation in Middle East including the Question of Palestine 

09 March 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the Briefing by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees 

07 March 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Debate on Follow-up to the Security Council Summit of 07 September 2000 

14 February 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Meeting on Kosovo 

29 January 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on East Timor 

25 January 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Open Meeting on Sierra Leone 

23 January 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the Central African Republic 

19 January 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Security Council Debate on HIV/AIDS 

18 January 2001 - Statement by Ireland at Public Meeting on Kosovo 

16 January 2001 - Statement by Ireland on Strengthening Co-operation with Troop Contributing Countries 

05 January 2001 - Statement by Ireland on the Democratic Republic of the Congo