UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, and three other senior international politicians to act as special envoys for United Nations reform.
Mr Ahern will be charged with drumming up support in Europe and the former Soviet states for Mr Annan's planned reform of the organisation in the run-up to September's summit in New York.
In a statement the Minister said he was "deeply honoured" to accept the appointment and that he would do his best "fulfil the important mandate" that the Secretary-General had given him.
He said the appointment was "a measure of Ireland's long-standing commitment to the United Nations and of the esteem it enjoys in all sectors of the membership".
"I have accepted this onerous mandate because the United Nations has long been a corner-stone of Ireland's foreign policy," he said.
Mr Ahern said his appointment would not affect his commitment to the post of foreign affairs.
He was appointed alongside Ali Alatas, former foreign minister of Indonesia, Joaquin Chissano former president of Mozambique, and Ernesto Zedillo, former president of Mexico.
Mr Annan is proposing the most wide-ranging changes in the organisation's 60-year history including a timetable for rich countries to combat poverty in poor nations, a new human rights body and an expansion of the permanent member Security Council.
Many see the report as an effort to restore confidence in the world body, shaken by the debate over the US invasion of Iraq, corruption in the oil-for-food program and revelations of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers.
In a statement announcing the appointments, the UN Secretary-General's office said Mr Annan has "outlined a bold vision of steps to be taken by the international community to meet the challenges of the 21st century".
"To help him promote this comprehensive agenda, the Secretary-General has requested the good offices of these four prominent world leaders, whom he as asked to act as his envoys in the run up to the Summit."
It said: "All four have vast political experience, profound knowledge of international relations, and are committed to the cause of the United Nations."
"The envoys will help the Secretary-General promote the bold but achievable agenda put forward in his report.
"To that end, they will travel around the world and engage political leaders, civil society representatives, academics and the media.
