Ireland to co-chair UN summit on refugees and migration

Ireland will co-chair a United Nations summit of world leaders on the topic of refugees and migration this September, The Irish Times reports.

Ireland and Jordan have been selected to chair the meeting on 19 September 2016, which was proposed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in advance of a UN General Assembly debate on the subject.

It is expected that the chairs will be Ireland’s Ambassador to the United Nations, David Donoghue, and the Jordanian ambassador Dina Kawar.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said the role highlighted Ireland’s strong international reputation.

He added: “We recognise the challenge and complexity of the task ahead, in the face of an unprecedented level of humanitarian crisis, which has driven more than 60 million people globally from their homes.”

Mr Flanagan and Taoiseach Enda Kenny reportedly discussed the event with King Abdullah of Jordan and Jordanian foreign minister Nasser Judeh during their visit to Ireland this month.