THE APPOINTMENT of Irish woman Patricia O'Brien as legal counsel of the United Nations and under secretary general for legal affairs has been welcomed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.
The appointment of Ms O'Brien, who is currently the legal adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs, was announced yesterday by Ban Ki-Moon, secretary general of the United Nations.
The Minister said he told Mr Ban in a telephone conversation that he was delighted such an accomplished Irish public servant had been chosen for this very senior position.
The Minister described the appointment as a great honour for both Ms O'Brien and for Ireland and said that it reflected very well on the State's long-standing commitment to an international order based on the rule of law. He wished Ms O'Brien every success.
Ms O'Brien has been legal adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs since 2003. Before that she was a senior legal adviser in the office of the attorney general and also served as legal counsellor at Ireland's permanent representation to the EU in Brussels. She has practised at the bars of Ireland and Canada and has taught law at the University of British Columbia.
Ms O'Brien was educated at Trinity College Dublin and the King's Inns.
The legal counsel of the UN advises the secretary general and acts on his behalf in all legal matters. The counsel also heads the office of legal affairs at UN headquarters in New York.
The office advises the UN, carries out the treaty depository functions and promotes the progressive development and codification of international law.
As one of a small number of under-secretaries general, Ms O'Brien will join the UN senior management group, which serves as the secretary general's cabinet and the central policy planning body of the UN.
