NEWS

Taoiseach tells UN General Assembly the world has "failed Palestine"

In Ireland's national statement to the 81st UN General Assembly, Micheál Martin said the full truth about Gaza will shame the world, condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and set out Ireland's bid for the Human Rights Council.

DáilDex · Published 26 September 2026

Share

WhatsApp X Facebook Email

At a glance

Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivered Ireland's national statement to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 24 September 2026. The Department of the Taoiseach published the text the following day.

Gaza: said the international community has failed Palestine
West Bank: condemned settler violence and settlement expansion
Ukraine: said Russia could halt its attacks at any time
Iran: said Iran must never have a nuclear weapon
Sudan: called it a forgotten war and urged outside actors to stop arming the conflict
Ireland: seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council for 2027–2029

Sources:

Government of Ireland (Department of the Taoiseach)

National Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 24th September 2026
We, the collected international community, have failed Palestine.

RTÉ News

When true Gaza horror revealed 'it will shame the world'

Follow your representatives

Get plain-English updates when your TDs and Senators act — based on the official record.

What he said about Gaza and the West Bank

The Taoiseach told the Assembly: "We, the collected international community, have failed Palestine." He said that when the full truth of what has happened in Gaza is known, it will shame the world. RTÉ News reported that the line drew applause in the chamber.

On the West Bank, he said settlement expansion had reached an unprecedented scale and that violent settlers act with near-total impunity, while Palestinian communities face displacement and destruction that he described as amounting to ethnic cleansing. He quoted the Israeli Prime Minister's statement that there will be no Palestinian state, and criticised the E1 development in East Jerusalem.

Sources:

Government of Ireland (Department of the Taoiseach)

National Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 24th September 2026
We, the collected international community, have failed Palestine.

RTÉ News

When true Gaza horror revealed 'it will shame the world'

Ukraine, Iran and Sudan

On Ukraine, he said Russia could halt its attacks at any time but refuses to do so, and that a permanent member of the Security Council changing borders by force is utterly unacceptable. He said there can be no impunity for war crimes and that Ireland is a steadfast supporter of the International Criminal Court.

He said Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. On Sudan, he said 15 million people have been displaced, called it a forgotten war, and said all states and external actors must stop arming, financing and enabling the conflict.

Sources:

Government of Ireland (Department of the Taoiseach)

National Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 24th September 2026
We, the collected international community, have failed Palestine.

Peacekeeping and Ireland's Human Rights Council bid

The Taoiseach noted that Irish soldiers have served in Lebanon with the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission since 1978, and said Ireland will keep working with Lebanon, the EU and other partners on Lebanon's future security. He welcomed the Secretary-General's report on the future of peacekeeping.

He also confirmed that Ireland is seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term.

Sources:

Government of Ireland (Department of the Taoiseach)

National Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 24th September 2026
We, the collected international community, have failed Palestine.

Why it matters

The national statement is the Government's main set-piece account of Irish foreign policy each year. This year's speech restates positions the Government has taken on Palestine, Ukraine and the International Criminal Court, and it frames Ireland's campaign for a Human Rights Council seat. It does not announce new funding or new policy commitments.

Sources:

Government of Ireland (Department of the Taoiseach)

National Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 24th September 2026
We, the collected international community, have failed Palestine.

RTÉ News

When true Gaza horror revealed 'it will shame the world'

How this story was made: DáilDex drafts news automatically from official records and national reporting, then checks every cited source and quote before publishing.

Sources

2 sources

Official / Primary

Government of Ireland (Department of the Taoiseach) — National Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 24th September 2026
“We, the collected international community, have failed Palestine.”

Reporting

RTÉ News — When true Gaza horror revealed 'it will shame the world'

DáilDex checked every quotation and claim against the full published text of the Taoiseach's national statement, and used RTÉ News's report for the reaction in the chamber.

Home

DáilDex News

How local government works in Ireland →

The Commission, Parliament and Council of the EU →

Dáil agrees amended motion on public transport fares

Dáil advances Industrial Development Bill after two votes

Dáil rejects Electricity Regulation climate action Bill

Follow a representative

Read our methodology

Preparing the public record…

At a glance

Follow your representatives

What he said about Gaza and the West Bank

Ukraine, Iran and Sudan

Peacekeeping and Ireland's Human Rights Council bid

Why it matters

Sources

Official / Primary

Reporting