The world is in a mess and Ireland has a month to make things a little better through the workings of the United Nations Security Council.
Ireland is currently a two year rotating member of the council and will hold the presidency of the fifteen member body for the month of September.
The council's work throughout the month will be guided by Ireland's Ambassador to the UN, Geraldine Byrne Nason.
Byrne Nason will need a little Irish luck to go along with her diplomatic skills to steer the council on a steady and productive course.
Speaking about Ireland's role, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "As President of the Security Council we will be dealing with some of the key immediate challenges facing the international community, including the evolving situation in Afghanistan, and an ongoing concerning situation in the Middle East.
"We sought a seat on the UN Security Council to make a difference; to bring a principled, constructive and open approach to its vital work of promoting international peace and security, including at critical and challenging times such as this.
"I look forward also to chairing a meeting of the Security Council on 23 September on the critical issue of Climate and Security. The effects of climate change are a contributory factor in a range of the crises on the Council’s agenda.”
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said that the Irish presidency came at a "critical moment."
And Ireland's president, Michael D. Higgins, has written to Ambassador Byrne Nason wishing her the best for the days ahead.
"Managing the work of the Security Council is a great honour but above all is a great responsibility. It is also a unique opportunity to bring Ireland’s values and principles to the UN body that, under the Charter, has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security," wrote President Higgins.
"With numerous crises unfolding contemporaneously across the world, and many protracted conflicts without resolution on the agenda of the Security Council, this is a particularly challenging time to assume the Presidency.
"I am confident, however, that Ireland will steer its work in a way that ensures the focus that it has campaigned and for advocated remains on the world’s most vulnerable citizens, and the urgent actions needed to save our fragile shared planet. I wish the team strength, fortitude and success over the coming month."
This will be the one time in the two year members of the Security Council that Ireland will hold the presidency.
