Ireland's Foreign Relations in 2003

Abstract

This article examines the formation and conduct of Ireland's foreign relations in 2003. It considers the international, European and domestic context in which these activities took place. The roles of the executive and the Oireachtas in the formation of Irish foreign policy are examined and the implications of the war on Iraq for Irish foreign policy are highlighted. Ireland's role in the UN 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 also assessed. Ireland's stance and policies in the EU are examined, in particular in the context of events surrounding the Convention on the Future of Europe and the Intergovernmental Conference. Finally, events in Northern Ireland, the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and Anglo-Irish relations are considered.