IDEA CEO Addresses Major International GCE Conference in Seoul

IDEA CEO, Ruairí McKiernan, was among the speakers at the recent 10th International Conference on Global Citizenship Education (IConGCED) in Seoul, co-organised by APCEIU (the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding under the auspices of UNESCO), the Korean Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and UNESCO. The conference brought together more than 350 participants from 51 countries under the theme “Democracy in the Post-Truth Crisis: The Role of GCED.” Ruairí was the only Irish speaker, sharing perspectives shaped by Ireland’s history of conflict, peacebuilding, and global solidarity.


Flying the Irish flag in Seoul


In his contribution, Ruairí spoke about the urgency of defending democracy and peace in an era of rising disinformation, authoritarianism, and conflict. Drawing on his experience of growing up near the Irish border, he reflected on how easily peace can be undermined. He pointed to the dangers posed by racist anti-migrant campaigns and the war in Palestine as stark reminders of the need to protect human rights and international law.


“Hard-won peace can never be taken for granted,” he told delegates. “We must invest in peace with greater determination than is invested in war. That means dialogue, empathy, education, critical thinking, courage, and compassion.”


Ireland’s commitment to solidarity


He also highlighted Ireland’s long tradition of solidarity and global engagement. He praised the commitment of Irish Aid, championed by Minister Neale Richmond, and acknowledged the work of NGOs such as Concern Worldwide, which maintains an office in South Korea. “Ireland’s national consciousness is rooted in empathy, resistance, and solidarity,” he said. “That is why Global Citizenship Education is so central to who we are as a people.”


A vibrant GCE sector in Ireland


Ruairí spoke about Ireland’s vibrant Global Citizenship Education sector and the dedication of the many organisations and educators who sustain it. He outlined IDEA’s role as the national platform for this work, including the IDEA Code of Good Practice which supports quality, coherence, and accountability across the sector. He highlighted the importance of Irish Aid’s GCE Strategy, the Shared Island cross-border initiatives, and the Dublin Declaration on Global Education to 2050, all of which place Ireland among the leading countries advancing GCE at national and international levels. He emphasised that the strength of Ireland’s sector lies in its collaboration and its ability to connect local realities with global justice issues.


A meeting of nations and ideas


The conference created valuable opportunities to connect with international leaders, NGOs, and academics from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond. These exchanges further strengthened IDEA’s role in advancing Global Citizenship Education on a global stage.


Ruairí also met with Ambassador Michelle Winthrop at the Irish Embassy in Seoul to discuss Ireland’s investment in international development and multilateralism. He learned more about the work of Concern Worldwide in Korea, and about the remarkable role played by Irish missionaries and humanitarians who dedicated themselves to Korea, including during the Korean War. Many lost their lives while working among the poor, while others are still alive and serving today. This history of sacrifice and solidarity further underlines Ireland’s global footprint and reputation for standing with those in need.


This was Ruairí’s first return to Korea since taking part in the Korea Foundation leadership programme in 2013. Reflecting on Korea’s remarkable journey from war to democracy, he said: “It is powerful to imagine Ireland and South Korea standing together on the world stage - as champions of inclusive, thriving democracies.”


Why it matters for IDEA


For IDEA and its members, the conference reinforced the vital role of Global Citizenship Education in building resilience against disinformation, polarisation, and democratic decline. It also showcased Ireland’s contribution - through policy, practice, lived experience, and humanitarian legacy – to the global GCE community.


As Ruairí concluded in Seoul: “If ever there was a moment for courage and leadership, it is now. Let us be the voice of peace and show that even in the darkest times, peace is always possible.”

IDEA Joins 30+ Organisations Demanding Irish Government Push for UN Action on Gaza

September 8, 2025
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA), together with more than 30 civil society organisations, trade unions, and advocacy groups, has signed an open letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin. The letter urges the Government to request that UN Secretary-General António Guterres convene an Emergency Special Session (ESS) at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. This would activate Resolution 377, “Uniting for Peace,” enabling the General Assembly to act when the Security Council is blocked by vetoes. An ESS could pave the way for urgent measures to protect civilians in Gaza, including the establishment of a UN peacekeeping force. The signatories emphasise Ireland’s history of leadership on Palestine and international justice, warning that civilians in Gaza face daily killings, famine, and displacement that amount to war crimes and ethnic cleansing. They call on the Government to ensure that Ireland once again shows principled leadership at the UN. Below is the full text of the letter and list of signatories. Open Letter to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste Dear Taoiseach and Tánaiste, There is an opportunity for our Government to request that the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, call an Emergency Special Session (ESS) at the forthcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting this September. The purpose of this ESS would be to discuss the situation in Gaza and to have the UN take an active role in protecting civilians – up to and including raising a peacekeeping force. This can be done under Resolution 377, “Uniting for Peace,” which allows the UNGA to act when the UN Security Council is deadlocked by vetoes. An ESS requires a simple majority of Member States to convene, although it then requires a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to agree on proposed actions. We request that you ensure Ireland’s UN representative calls on the other 192 Member States to join this demand. Resolution 377 can be used on occasions when the Security Council is blocked by vetoes. This is such an occasion: on 4 June 2025, a draft resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza failed to pass in the UN Security Council after the United States cast its veto - blocking an initiative backed by all ten elected members of the Council. Emergency Special Sessions, often invoked under Resolution 377, have been used throughout UN history – including during the Korean War, the Suez Canal crisis, and in relation to Bangladesh in 1971, Afghanistan in 1980, and Israel in 1982. Most recently, it was used in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Resolution is strong enough to give the UNGA the authority to raise a peacekeeping force. The situation is urgent. Civilians are being killed daily by Israeli forces, whose deliberate actions are also causing famine - itself a war crime. The Irish Government has already joined the South African case at the International Court of Justice to investigate whether genocide is taking place. Plans to bomb and destroy Gaza City, and to move the population to a so-called safe zone, are acts of ethnic cleansing and must be stopped. The Irish people have demonstrated in their protests that we are demanding action from our Government. Irish governments have a strong track record of leadership on the issue of Palestine. Now is the time to build on that leadership. Yours etc., TONY DALY, CEO, 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World JOHN REYNOLDS, Academics for Palestine KAROL BALFE, CEO, ActionAid KATIE MARTIN, Coordinator, Afri MAEVE MCLAUGHLIN, Director, Bloody Sunday Trust STEPHEN MCCLOSKEY, Director, Centre for Global Education CAROLINE MURPHY, CEO, Comhlámh SEAN O'BRIAIN, Comhlámh Justice for Palestine DERMOT BARRY, Cork Palestine Solidarity ANNE O'BRIEN, Cork Trades Council BOBBY MCCORMACK, CEO, Development Perspectives DES DERWIN, Dublin Trades Council THOMAS MCDONAGH, Director, Financial Justice Ireland ÁINE UÍ FHOGHLÚ, Gaeil ar son Gaza JOE O'BRIEN, Executive Director, ICCL RUAIRÍ MCKIERNAN, CEO, IDEA JOHN BOYLE, General Secretary, INTO DR ANGY SKUCE, Irish Health Care Workers for Palestine ÁINE HUTCHINSON, Ireland Palestine Mental Health Network REBECCA O'KEEFFE and JOANNE MCDONALD, Irish Sports for Palestine JACOB WOOLF, Jews for Palestine Ireland REV. JOHN PARKIN, Kairos Ireland AOIFE HERR, Mothers Against Genocide ORLA O'CONNOR, Director, National Women’s Council WILL HAIRE, Clerk, Ireland Yearly Meeting (Quakers) SEÁN THIM O'LEARY, President, TCD Students’ Union PAUL MCSWEENEY, Trade Union Friends of Palestine SIOBHAN CURRAN, Head of Policy, Trócaire ANTHONY QUINN, President, TUI BRIAN CUTHBERT, Programme Director, Uplift MARCELLA HEALY, Waterford for Palestine

IDEA Backs Call for Ireland to Join Hague Group and Help End Genocide in Palestine

August 25, 2025
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) has joined a growing coalition of Irish civil society groups in endorsing a critical open letter, urging the Irish government to formally join the Hague Group and push for an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people. The appeal, initiated by IDEA members Comhlámh and Afri, demands that Ireland act decisively ahead of the Hague Group’s 20 September deadline, coinciding with the 80th UN General Assembly. Ireland has already sent a representative to participate in a recent Hague Group meeting, signalling its engagement with this urgent international initiative. However, civil society organisations stress that formal membership and full endorsement of the Group’s six measures is now essential if Ireland is to match its words with action. Halting arms transfers to Israel. Preventing military transit and servicing of vessels carrying such goods. Enforcing shipping controls, including penalties like de‑flagging. Reviewing public contracts to eliminate state support for occupation. Pursuing national or international investigations for serious international crimes. Enabling domestic prosecutions using international jurisdiction. The open letter outlines grave concerns over escalating atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, including settler violence, land dispossession, home demolitions, and forced displacement. It points out that, while UN efforts have been blocked, the Hague Group offers an immediate and tangible path toward justice. For IDEA, the call is also about upholding the principles of Global Citizenship Education (GCE). At its core, GCE is an educational process that helps people of all ages understand global interdependence, think critically about injustice, and develop the skills to take meaningful action. It cultivates empathy, solidarity, and responsibility, encouraging learners to connect local and global struggles. Supporting the Hague Group is therefore not only a matter of foreign policy, but also an expression of Ireland’s commitment to educate for justice and to model these values in practice. Ireland has until 20 September to join the 13 countries that have already committed to six concrete pledges at the Hague Group summit. As the deadline approaches, this coalition is calling on all TDs and Senators to publicly back Ireland’s membership, advocate for the six pledges within government ranks, and ensure that formal commitment is secured before the UN General Assembly convenes. Find out more here.

Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity

August 11, 2025
Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity “Ireland has received international recognition for its development education strategies… Without additional investment, we cannot seize the opportunity to turn development-aware children into development-aware adults.” - OECD DAC Peer Review of Ireland Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here For over half a century, Ireland has invested in Global Citizenship Education (GCE), enabling people across the island to explore complex issues such as climate justice, human rights, and equality - and to take informed action for a more just and sustainable world. Between 2021 and 2024, €33.6 million was invested in programmes reaching over 1.2 million people, helping to embed GCE across schools, communities, and other learning spaces. This investment has made Ireland a European and global leader in the field. But in today’s turbulent context - with rising disinformation, polarisation, climate emergencies, and deepening inequalities - the need for GCE has never been greater. As Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond, told the IDEA Annual Conference in May 2025: “Now is the time to focus on the hard issues… These are among the greatest challenges of our time.” Why Now? Budget 2026 comes at a critical moment. Ireland is: Running out of time to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Preparing a new national GCE strategy for the next five years. Operating in a global context where democratic values, human rights, and multilateral cooperation are under unprecedented strain. The OECD has commended Ireland’s strong GCE strategies but has also warned that without additional investment, we risk falling short on SDG Target 4.7 - ensuring all learners acquire the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development. Our Key Budget 2026 Asks: Increase investment in GCE Move towards the widely recognised target of 3% of Official Development Assistance (ODA), using a cross-departmental approach and accounting for inflation. Current spending is 1.2% of ODA - far below the €26 million annually needed to reach the 3% target. Boost GCE/ESD funding under “ESD to 2030” Provide adequate and dedicated funding for projects led by organisations, schools, and higher education institutions to ensure the successful delivery of the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development. Create dedicated GCE/ESD funding lines Integrate and resource GCE/ESD within the SDG National Implementation Plan, Climate Action Plan, and National Action Plan Against Racism, recognising that climate justice and anti-racism are core components of global citizenship. Increase Ireland’s ODA Commit to a €300 million increase in Budget 2026 to make tangible progress towards the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA by 2030. Adopt Coalition 2030 recommendations Implement budget measures that ensure resources reach those furthest behind first, and align budget lines with specific SDG targets. Beyond Funding – Policy Coherence and Decent Work In addition to resourcing, GCE requires stronger coordination across government departments and better integration into policies, institutions, and networks. GCE practitioners must also have secure, decent working conditions in line with SDG 8, ensuring that expertise is retained within the sector. The Opportunity for Ireland Ireland is respected globally for its principled, values-based approach to international development. By investing in GCE now, we can: Strengthen civic trust, participation, and resilience in our society. Equip citizens to navigate complex global challenges. Ensure Ireland remains a strong, independent voice for justice, solidarity, and human rights on the world stage. Budget 2026 is our opportunity to protect the progress made, scale up impact, and deliver on our commitments. IDEA and our members are ready to work with Irish Aid and across government to ensure Ireland continues to lead with integrity, foresight, and global solidarity. _______________________________________________________ Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here to explore our recommendations in detail and see how, together, we can strengthen Global Citizenship Education in Ireland and beyond.