Minister Byrne to address Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., will address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Wednesday, 12 October, during the PACE's final plenary session of the Irish Presidency of the Council of Europe.

In his address, the Minister will welcome the recently published report of the High Level Reflection Group on the future of the Council of Europe, and call for a summit of heads of state of the Council of Europe to be convened in early 2023, to reaffirm the Council's important role in promoting democracy, human rights and rule of law.

'At the heart of the High Level Reflection Group's report, and at the core of Ireland's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, is a recommitment to this institution's 'Founding Freedoms'. Above all else, this means refocussing on human rights protection for civilians across Europe, not least through the work of the European Court of Human Rights.'

During the four-day plenary session, the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, will also address the PACE, as will President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, and President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis. Debates will be held throughout the week by the PACE's 324 members on topics such as the consequences of Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine and the impact of Brexit on human rights on the island of Ireland. Other issues under debate include the hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, countering Islamophobia in Europe and discrimination against women in sport.

While in Strasbourg, Minister Byrne will meet senior leaders across the Council, including the President of PACE Tiny Kox, the Council's Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić and President of the Council's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Mr Leendert Verbeek. The Minister will also visit the European Court of Human Rights, meeting President of the Court Robert Spano and President-Elect Síofra O'Leary.