Ireland's Foreign Relations in 2002

Abstract

This article examines the formation and conduct of Ireland's foreign relations in 2002. It considers the international, European and domestic context in which these activities took place. The implications for Irish foreign policy of the May 2002 election are highlighted, as are the roles of the executive and the Oireachtas in the formation of Irish foreign policy. Ireland's role on the UN Security Council is discussed, as are its responses to international events such as the war in Iraq and the crisis in the Middle East. Its broader contribution to the UN is assessed. Ireland's stance and policies in the EU are examined, and the events surrounding the referendum on the Treaty of Nice in Ireland are analysed. The article then turns to look at events in Northern Ireland, the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and Anglo-Irish relations.