Editing Foreign relations of Ireland (section)

==Main relationships==
Ireland was not invited to join the United Nations when it was formed in 1945. Both Washington and London were opposed because of Ireland's neutrality during the war. Ireland applied in 1946 and the US and UK voted approval, but the Soviet Union vetoed it. Ireland was finally admitted to the UN in 1955.<ref>Ronan Fanning, "The Anglo-American Alliance and the Irish Application for Membership of the United Nations." ''Irish Studies in International Affairs'' 2#2 (1986), pp. 35–61. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/30001952 online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522125820/https://www.jstor.org/stable/30001952 |date=22 May 2023 }}</ref> It joined the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC) in 1973; it is now known as the [[European Union]] (EU). In 1974 it began the Irish Aid programme to provide assistance to developing countries. In 1991 it established the Irish Institute of International and European Affairs to conduct research and analysis on international and European affairs. In 1992 the [[Irish Refugee Council]] began as a humanitarian advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland.<ref>John Doyle, "100 years of Irish Foreign Policy." ''Irish Studies in International Affairs'' 30.1 (2019): 1–5.</ref>

===United Kingdom===

[[File:Irish embassy in London.JPG|thumb|left|220px|Embassy of Ireland in London]]

{{Main|Ireland–United Kingdom relations}}

Since at least the 12th century Ireland, as a result of military conquest, has had political connections with the United Kingdom and its predecessor states, with the whole island becoming a part of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] from 1801 to 1922. From the time Ireland became independent from the United Kingdom in 1922, the two countries have been involved in a dispute over the status of [[Northern Ireland]]. [[Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland]] formerly claimed Northern Ireland as a part of the ''"national territory"'', though in practice the Irish government did recognise the UK's jurisdiction over the region.<br />
From the onset of [[the Troubles]] in 1969, the two governments sought to bring the violence to an end. The [[Sunningdale Agreement]] of 1973 and the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]] of 1985 were important steps in this process. In 1998, both [[sovereign state|states]] signed the [[Good Friday Agreement]] and now co-operate closely to find a solution to the region's problems. [[Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland]] were amended as part of this agreement, the territorial claim being replaced with a statement of aspiration to unite the people of the island of Ireland. As part of the Good Friday Agreement, the states also ended their [[names of the Irish state|dispute over their respective names]]: ''Ireland'' and the ''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland''. Each agreed to accept and use the others' correct name.

When [[the Troubles]] were raging in Northern Ireland, the [[Government of Ireland|Irish Government]] sought, with mixed success, to prevent the import of weapons and ammunition through its territory by illegal paramilitary organisations for use in their conflict with the security forces in Northern Ireland. In 1973 three ships of the [[Naval Service (Ireland)|Irish Naval Service]] intercepted a ship carrying weapons from [[Libya]] which were probably destined for [[Irish Republican]] paramilitaries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/13878 |title=The Claudia |newspaper=[[An Phoblacht]] |date=21 July 2005 |access-date=26 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203094037/http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/13878 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Law enforcement acts such as these additionally improved relations with the government of the United Kingdom. However, the independent judiciary blocked a number of attempts to extradite suspects between 1970 and 1998 on the basis that their crime might have been 'political' and thus contrary to [[extradition#Common conditions of extradition|international law at the time]].

Ireland is one of the parties to the [[Rockall#Law of the Sea|Rockall continental shelf dispute]] that also involves Denmark, [[Iceland]], and the United Kingdom. Ireland and the United Kingdom have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area. However, neither has concluded similar agreements with Iceland or Denmark (on behalf of the [[Faroe Islands]]) and the matter remains under negotiation. Iceland now claims<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reglugerd.is/interpro/dkm/WebGuard.nsf/key2/196-1985 |title=Dóms- og kirkjumálaráđuneyti : Reglugerđ varđandi afmörkun landgrunnsins til vesturs, í suđur og til austurs |publisher=Reglugerd.is |access-date=24 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606103624/http://www.reglugerd.is/interpro/dkm/WebGuard.nsf/key2/196-1985 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a substantial area of the [[continental shelf]] to the west of Ireland, to a point 49°48'N 19°00'W, which is further south than Ireland.

The controversial [[Sellafield]] [[nuclear fuel reprocessing plant]] in north-western England has also been a contentious issue between the two governments. The Irish government has sought the closure of the plant, taking a case against the UK government under the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]]. However, the [[European Court of Justice]] found that the case should have been dealt with under EU law.<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/064-4617-023-01-04-911-20060123IPR04616-23-01-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm Irish Government must pursue Sellafield case via EU] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101035401/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/064-4617-023-01-04-911-20060123IPR04616-23-01-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm |date=1 January 2016 }}&nbsp;— [[European Parliament]] press release, 8 June 2006.</ref> In 2006, however, both countries came to a friendly agreement which enabled both the [[Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland]] and the [[Garda Síochána]] (Irish Police Force) access to the site to conduct investigations.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/may/30/energy.nuclearindustry | title=Irish Sellafield appeal ruled illegal | newspaper=The Guardian | date=30 May 2006 | access-date=27 October 2013 | archive-date=29 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029215031/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/may/30/energy.nuclearindustry | url-status=live }}</ref>

===United States===

[[File:Embassy of Ireland in Washington DC.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Embassy of Ireland to the US, in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]

{{Main|Ireland–United States relations}}

{{see also|United States Ambassador to Ireland|Embassy of the United States in Dublin|Deerfield Residence|l3=United States Ambassador's Official Residence in Dublin}}

The United States recognised the [[Irish Free State]] on 28 June 1924 with diplomatic relations being established on 7 October 1924. In 1927, the United States opened an American Legation in Dublin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://history.state.gov/countries/ireland|title=Ireland – Countries – Office of the Historian|website=History.state.gov|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731195955/https://history.state.gov/countries/ireland|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the ancestral ties between the two countries, Ireland and the US have a strong relationship, both politically and economically, with the US being Ireland's biggest trading partner since 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlas.media.mit.edu/explore/tree_map/export/irl/show/all/2000/ |title=Ireland Trade Visualization |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |access-date=28 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029224716/http://atlas.media.mit.edu/explore/tree_map/export/irl/show/all/2000/ |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> Ireland also receives more [[foreign direct investment]] from the US than many larger nations, with investments in Ireland equal to [[France]] and [[Germany]] combined and, in 2012, more than all of developing Asia put together.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Ireland-ranked-as-fourth-largest-destination-for-investment-from-US-companies-226732881.html | title=Ireland ranked as fourth largest destination for investment from US companies | publisher=Irish Central | date=7 October 2013 | access-date=28 October 2013 | archive-date=23 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023160230/https://www.irishcentral.com/news/Ireland-ranked-as-fourth-largest-destination-for-investment-from-US-companies-226732881.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

The use of [[Shannon Airport]] as a stop-over point for [[Military of the United States|US forces]] en route to [[Iraq]] has caused domestic controversy in Ireland. Opponents of this policy brought an unsuccessful [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] case against the government in 2003, arguing that this use of Irish airspace violated [[Irish neutrality]].<ref>[http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2003/64.html Horgan v. An Taoiseach & others IEHC 64 (28 April 2003)] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120718103838/http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2003/64.html |date=18 July 2012 }}&nbsp;— High Court judgement in the unsuccessful case brought by Ed Horgan</ref> Restrictions such as carrying no arms, ammunition, or explosives, and that the flights in question did not form part of military exercises or operations were put in place to defend Irish neutrality, however, allegations have been made against the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] that the airport has been used between 30 and 50 times for illegal [[extraordinary rendition]] flights to the U.S. without the knowledge of the Irish Government, despite diplomatic assurances by the US that Irish airspace would not be used for transport of detainees.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/us-report-accuses-ireland-of-collusion-in-extraordinary-rendition-flights-583676.html | title=US report accuses Ireland of collusion in 'extraordinary rendition' flights | publisher=BreakingNews.ie | date=5 February 2013 | access-date=28 October 2013 | archive-date=21 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021070827/https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/us-report-accuses-ireland-of-collusion-in-extraordinary-rendition-flights-583676.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Simon Carswell |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/bush-assured-irish-state-shannon-not-used-for-rendition-flights-1.2045744 |title=Bush assured Irish State Shannon not used for rendition flights |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=2014-12-22 |access-date=2020-05-11 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929120114/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/bush-assured-irish-state-shannon-not-used-for-rendition-flights-1.2045744 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2006, the former Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, [[Dermot Ahern]] voiced concern over the [[2006 Lebanon War]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0726/mideast1.html|title=Israeli envoy to pass on Irish concerns|work=[[RTÉ]]|access-date=27 July 2006|date=27 July 2006|archive-date=23 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023005655/https://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0726/mideast1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A shipment of bombs being sent to [[Israel]] by the United States was banned using Irish airspace or airfields.<ref name="scotsman-20060730">{{cite news | title=Irish refused bombs sent to Prestwick airport | work=The Scotsman | url=http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1104532006 | date=30 July 2006 | location=Edinburgh | first1=Eddie | last1=Barnes | first2=Murdo | last2=Macleod | access-date=5 August 2019 | archive-date=28 July 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728135211/http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1104532006 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1995 a decision was made by the U.S. government to appoint a [[United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland|Special Envoy]] to Northern Ireland to help with the [[Northern Ireland peace process]]. During the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential campaign in the United States]], however, Democratic Party candidate [[Barack Obama]] was reported as having questioned the necessity to keep a US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. His remarks caused an uproar within the Republican Party, with Senator [[John McCain]] questioning his leadership abilities and his commitment to the ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://republican-news.org/current/news/2008/09/obama_seeks_to_recover_from_ir.html | title=Obama seeks to recover from Irish blunder | publisher=Republican News | date=5 September 2008 | access-date=28 October 2013 | archive-date=5 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205202834/https://republican-news.org/current/news/2008/09/obama_seeks_to_recover_from_ir.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, [[Geraldine Byrne Nason]] is the Irish ambassador to the United States while the position of U.S. ambassador to Ireland is held by [[Claire D. Cronin]].

===China===

[[File:Irish Embassy in Beijing.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Embassy of Ireland in [[Beijing]]]]

{{See also|China–Ireland relations}}

Ireland's official relationship with the People's Republic of China began on 22 June 1979.<ref>Centre for Asian Studies, University Collete Dublin, China the Emerging Power: Prospects for Sino-Irish Relations, By Keisha Carty, Asia Correspondent, The Irish Times</ref> Following his visit to China in 1999, former [[Taoiseach]] [[Bertie Ahern]] authorised the establishment of an Asia Strategy.<ref name="ReferenceA">Irish Department of Foreign Affairs: a Decade of the Asia Strategy</ref> This Strategy aimed to ensure that the Irish Government and Irish enterprise work coherently to enhance the important relationships between Ireland and Asia.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In recent years due to the rapid expansion of the Chinese economy, China is becoming a key trade partner of Ireland, with over $6bn worth of [[bilateral trade]] between the two countries in 2010. In July 2013, the [[Tánaiste]] and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade were invited to China by the Chinese foreign minister [[Wang Yi (politician)|Wang Yi]] on a trade mission to boost both investment and political ties between the two countries.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89728 | title=Tánaiste begins four-day political and economic mission to China | publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs | date=29 July 2013 | access-date=29 October 2013 | archive-date=4 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004115543/http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89728 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Ireland has raised its concerns in the area of human rights with China on several occasions. On 12 May 2007, during a visit to Beijing, former [[Taoiseach]] [[Brian Cowen]] (then Minister for Finance) discussed human rights issues with Chinese Foreign Minister [[Li Zhaoxing]].<ref name="Wednesday 2007">[[Oireachtas]]: WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 31 January 2007. Ref No: 43859/06</ref> Former Tánaiste [[Mary Coughlan (politician)|Mary Coughlan]] also raised human rights issues and concerns with visiting Chinese Vice-Premier [[Zeng Peiyan]].<ref name="Wednesday 2007"/> Ireland also participates in the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue.

Concerning the [[Political status of Taiwan|Taiwan issue]], Ireland follows a [[One-China policy]] and emphasizes the Taiwan issue being best settled through dialogue "between the parties concerned". Ireland does not maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan although there is a Taipei Representative Office that has a representative function about economic and cultural promotion.

In July 2019, the UN ambassadors from 22 nations, including Ireland, signed a joint letter to the [[United Nations Human Rights Council|UNHRC]] condemning China's [[Persecution of Uyghurs in China|mistreatment of the Uyghurs]] as well as its mistreatment of other minority groups, urging the Chinese government to close the [[Xinjiang internment camps]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/ |work=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]] |date=15 July 2019 |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716160658/https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=More than 20 ambassadors condemn China's treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/more-than-20-ambassadors-condemn-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-in-xinjiang |work=The Guardian |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213195555/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/more-than-20-ambassadors-condemn-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-in-xinjiang |url-status=live }}</ref>