Secretary General Alain Berset Official Visit to Ireland Dublin 24 April
Summary
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset will make an official visit to Ireland on 24 April to discuss democratic security, international rule of law, migration, and accountability for Ukraine. During the visit he will meet Ireland's President Catherine Connolly, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, and Minister of State Thomas Byrne. The Secretary General will also meet with civil-society organisations chaired by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and discussions will address ongoing negotiations towards a political declaration on migration and the European Convention on Human Rights ahead of the 15 May foreign ministers meeting in Chișinău.
“"Ireland was one of the founding members of the Council of Europe and has consistently played a key role in helping to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law across the continent," said the Secretary General ahead of the visit.”
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What changed
The Council of Europe announced Secretary General Alain Berset's official visit to Ireland on 24 April, marking Ireland's first hosting of a Council of Europe Secretary General. The visit will address reinforcing Europe's democratic security, defending international rule of law, managing migration, and ensuring accountability for Ukraine. Meetings with President Catherine Connolly, Minister Jim O'Callaghan, and Minister of State Thomas Byrne will also cover ongoing negotiations towards a political declaration on migration and the European Convention on Human Rights, ahead of the 15 May foreign ministers meeting in Chișinău. This is an informational diplomatic announcement with no regulatory or compliance implications for private entities.
Scheduled event
- Date
- 2026-04-24
- Location
- Dublin
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Democratic security, upholding international law and migration on agenda for Alain Berset in Dublin
Council of Europe Secretary General will make first official visit to Ireland
Secretary General Berset will meet the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, as well as government ministers in Dublin
The Secretary General of the 46-member Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will pay an official visit to Ireland on Friday 24 April.
“Ireland was one of the founding members of the Council of Europe and has consistently played a key role in helping to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law across the continent,” said the Secretary General ahead of the visit.
“In this challenging period, it is more important than ever that we join forces, guided by our shared values, to reinforce Europe’s democratic security, defend the international rule of law and manage migration, in addition to ensuring accountability for Ukraine.”
Geopolitics to the fore in talks
During the visit, Secretary General Berset will meet Ireland’s President, Catherine Connolly, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan, and Thomas Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and at the Department of Defence.
Discussions are expected to focus on recent geopolitical developments, including conflict in the Middle East, the importance of democratic security in the face of significant challenges to the international rule of law, and the Council of Europe’s priority work in support of Ukraine.
On-going negotiations towards a political declaration on issues related to migration and the European Convention on Human Rights will also be discussed, ahead of the forthcoming meeting of Council of Europe foreign ministers in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, on 15 May.
During the visit, the Secretary General will also take part in a meeting with civil-society organisations chaired by Deirdre Malone, Director of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Secretary General Alain Berset
Learn more about Ireland and the Council of Europe
The impact of the European Convention on Human Rights in Ireland
Secretary General Strasbourg 21 April 2026
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