I would like to welcome visitors to the home page of the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The Irish Government attaches great importance to strengthening Ireland's links. This includes links with International Organisations. I hope that visitors will find this site useful and informative about Ireland's engagement with the OECD and UNESCO.
Ireland was among the founding members of the OECD in 1961. For a small country the advantages of membership of such a focussed professional international organisation (it now has 35 members) are many. We have access to the highest quality analysis and policy prescriptions and the opportunity to contribute along with other important economies in shaping the economic policy environment internationally.
OECD membership has been very useful for Ireland, providing us with very valuable outside expertise on a range of issues including economic policy and analysis, taxation, the environment, education, social policy, science and technology, international trade and development policy issues. The OECD economic survey of Ireland which is published every two years, is a very important outside commentary on our economic progress and is followed closely at home and internationally. The next one is expected at the beginning of 2018. The OECD regularly undertakes important work for Ireland - most recently on pensions, the Youth guarantee, and Ireland's Action Plan for Jobs. Ireland plays an active role in the work of the OECD.
The Permanent Representation works to ensure our engagement with the OECD facilitates policy development in Ireland and that we benefit from the best international practice in achieving 'Better Policies for Better Lives' - the guiding mission of the Organisation.
Ireland joined UNESCO on 3 October 1961. The Department of Education and Skills oversees Ireland's relationship with the Organisation, while our Permanent Representation based in Paris upholds Ireland's foreign policy, interests and values.
The island of Ireland has three World Heritage Sites: Brú na Bóinne; Sceilg Mhicíl; the Giant’s Causeway. The Book of Kells, in Trinity College Dublin, is inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature and Galway a UNESCO City of Film. The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, the Marble Arch Caves and the Copper Coast in Co. Waterford are all UNESCO Global Geoparks. Dublin Bay and Kerry are UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
A special moment in Ireland's recent relationship with UNESCO was the visit of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, in February 2013. The President's address received broad acclaim, and his speech reflected the spirit in which our Representation conceives its mission at UNESCO and our work.
I hope that visitors to this site will find it informative and helpful.
Thank you for your visit.
Dermot Nolan
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh chuairteoirí ar leathanach baile Bhuanionadaíocht na hÉireann chuig an Eagraíocht um Chomhar agus Fhorbairt Eacnamaíochta (ECFE) agus chuig Eagraíocht Oideachais, Eolaíochta agus Chultúir na Náisiún Aontaithe (UNESCO). Is ríthábhachtach le Rialtas na hÉireann naisc na hÉireann a neartú, agus áirítear leis sin naisc le hEagraíochtaí Idirnáisiúnta. Tá súil agam go bhfaighidh cuairteoirí ar an suíomh seo eolas úsáideach faoi rannpháirtíocht na hÉireann le ECFE agus le UNESCO.
Bhí Éire i measc bhunaitheoirí ECFE i 1961. I gcás tír bheag, is mór an méid buntáistí a bhaineann le ballraíocht san eagraíocht spriocdhírithe, ghairmiúil, idirnáisiúnta sin (ina bhfuil 35 ball anois). Bíonn fáil againn ar anailís ar an gcaighdeán is airde agus ar shaintreoracha beartais, agus bíonn an deis againn páirt a ghlacadh, in éineacht le geilleagair thábhachtacha eile, i gceapadh an bheartais gheilleagraigh ar an leibhéal idirnáisiúnta.
Is mór an tairbhe atá bainte ag Éirinn as a ballraíocht in OECD, agus tugann an eagraíocht sin saineolas seachtrach an-luachmhar dúinn ar shaincheisteanna éagsúla lena n-áirítear beartas agus anailís gheilleagrach, cánachas, an comhshaol, oideachas, beartas sóisialta, eolaíocht agus teicneolaíocht agus saincheisteanna beartais maidir leis an trádáil idirnáisiúnta agus le cúrsaí forbartha. Sa suirbhé geilleagrach ar Éirinn a dhéanann ECFE, a fhoilsítear gach dara bliain, cuirtear i láthair léargas seachtrach an-tábhachtach ar an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh againn i dtaobh an gheilleagair, agus is mór an aird a thugtar air sa bhaile agus thar lear. Táthar ag súil leis an gcéad eagrán eile de ag tús na bliana 2018. Tugann ECFE faoi obair thábhachtach d'Éirinn ar bhonn rialta – bhain an obair sin le déanaí le pinsin, leis an Ráthaíocht don Aos Óg, agus le Plean Gníomhaíochta na hÉireann do Phoist. Tá ról gníomhach ag Éirinn in obair ECFE.
Bíonn an Bhuanionadaíocht i mbun oibre lena chinntiú go n-éascaítear don fhorbairt beartais in Éirinn de bharr na rannpháirtíochta atá againn le ECFE, agus go mbainimid tairbhe as an dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta i dtaobh 'Beartais Níos Fearr do Shaol Níos Fearr' – misean treorach na hEagraíochta – a bhaint amach.
Chuaigh Éire isteach in UNESCO ar an 3 Deireadh Fómhair 1961. Déanann an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna maoirseacht ar chaidreamh na hÉireann leis an Eagraíocht, agus seasann ár mBuanionadaíocht, atá lonnaithe i bPáras, le beartas eachtrach, leasanna agus luachanna na hÉireann.
Trí cinn de Láithreáin Oidhreachta Dhomhanda atá ar oileán na hÉireann: Brú na Bóinne; Sceilg Mhicíl; Clochán an Aifir. Tá Leabhar Cheanannais, atá i gColáiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, breactha ar Chlár UNESCO um Chuimhne an Domhain. Tá Baile Átha Cliath ina Chathair Litríochta de chuid UNESCO agus tá Gaillimh ina Cathair Scannán de chuid UNESCO. Geopháirceanna Domhanda de chuid UNESCO is ea Boirinn agus Aillte an Mhothair, Uaimheanna na hÁirse Marmair agus Cósta an Chopair i gCo. Phort Láirge. Is Tearmainn Bhithsféir de chuid UNESCO iad Cuan Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Ciarraí.
Tráth ar leith i gcaidreamh na hÉireann le UNESCO le déanaí arbh ea an chuairt a thug Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn, ar an eagraíocht sin i mí Feabhra 2013. Fuair aitheasc an Uachtaráin moladh i bhfad is i gcéin, agus léirigh an óráid uaidh an meon atá ag an Ionadaíocht seo i dtaobh a misin ag UNESCO agus i dtaobh na hoibre a dhéanaimid.
Tá súil agam go bhfaighidh cuairteoirí ar an suíomh seo eolas áisiúil ann.
Go raibh maith agat as do chuairt.
Dermot Nolan
Ambasadóir agus Buanionadaí
