TDs attend conflict resolution conference
A party of Irish delegates will arrive in South Africa today to discuss ways of resolving conflicts around the world.
Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue will lead the group to the 118th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Cape Town.
The travelling party includes TDs Frank Fahey, Tom Hayes, Frank Feighan, and Peter Kelly, and Senators Maria Corrigan, Denis O’Donovan and Brendan Ryan.
They will join some 700 legislators from 143 Member Parliaments to debate the political, economic and social situation in the world under the theme Pushing Back the Frontiers of Poverty.
Items on the committee agenda for discussion include the role of parliaments in striking a balance between national security, human security and individual freedoms, and in averting the threat to democracy.
Parliamentary oversight of State policies on foreign aid, and migrant workers, people trafficking, xenophobia and human rights will also go under the spotlight.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza and climate change may also be added to the agenda.
The Assembly will give delegates the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings and seek ways of resolving conflicts in various parts of the world.
Panel discussions will also take place on maternal, newborn and child health and on peace-building towards reconciliation.
Established in 1889, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation and brings together 143 affiliated parliaments and seven associated regional assemblies.
The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
