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School of Law and Government
Ambassador Byrne Nason LG233 guest lecture

Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason delivers guest lecture to DCU Bachelor's in International Relations undergrads

Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivered a guest lecture on Thursday 25 November, to DCU's undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor's in International Relations (BAIR) programme. The guest lecture was part of the 'LG233 - Conflict, Peace & Security' core module which is an important component of DCU's BA in IR course. Prof. Daire Keogh, DCU President, introduced the honourable guest to the audience, and thanked the Ambassador for her consistent efforts and hard work, which play a key role in maintaining a proud record of Irish diplomacy at the world's apex forum.

Ambassador Byrne Nason, in her candid and wide-ranging talk, discussed the efforts Ireland's mission at the UN is engaged in, and shared her personal experiences about her recent trips to Mali and Niger as part of UN's fact-finding mission to Sahel. She also addressed the dire humanitarian situation in Ethiopia and expressed her concern over the Ethiopian government's decision to downsize the presence of the Irish diplomatic mission in the country at a time when millions of people are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance due to the civil war. Ambassador Byrne Nason also focused on Ireland's concerted efforts in helping bring peace to other war-torn countries around the world and its contribution to the UN's peacebuilding effort. Her guest lecture was followed by an engaging Q&A session, in which a number of students posed questions directly to Ambassador Byrne Nason, and enquired about Ireland's role at the UN Security Council, the reform of the UNSC, and its involvement in bringing peace and stability in different regions around the globe. Ambassador Byrne Nason was thanked by Dr. Ken McDonagh, Head of School of Law & Government, and lecturer Moign Khawaja, for taking her valuable time out and addressing the students and providing them with invaluable insight, thus ending Semester 1 on a high note.