Looking to the future with confidence this St. Patrick’s Day

On St Patrick’s Day, our National Day, I would like to reflect onthe six years that there has been a resident Embassyof Ireland here in Jordan. This has provided a platform for extremelypositive engagement and an ever-growing bilateral relationship between our two countries.  As well as a high level of political engagement, there has been a growth in trade and economic ties, greater educational linkages, increased humanitarian and development partnerships, and cultural exchanges.

St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for tens of millions of people with Irish heritage around the world – and many more friends of Ireland beyond that – to join in a celebration of Ireland and the literature, music, culture, history and outlook on life that have shaped our island. We know, in Ireland, that we are truly fortunate to have a National Day so many people enjoy.

We know, too, that enjoyable days are not in abundance everywhere this March. Conflicts, particularly in this part of the world, continue to devastate lives across the globe, fuelling hunger, displacement and unbearable levels of suffering. The impacts of climate change arealso being felt in more and varied ways. Even in highly developed countries, increases in the cost of living and anxiety around technological and societal change have undermined confidence in established ways of doing business.

We are not immune from these international winds of change in Ireland, but we do try to limit their effects. And certainly when it comes to investors in Ireland and visitors to our island, we try to provide a consistency of approach that stands the test of time. In a world as turbulent as today’s, we think this consistency is something to cherish.

Ireland regularly rates as among the best places in the world to do business, with the World Competitiveness Report 2024 ranking Ireland first internationally for attracting and retaining talent, first for the flexibility and adaptability of our workforce, and first for workforce productivity. 

For an island that experienced the worst famine in Europe of the nineteenth century and crippling emigration until more recently, this rise to become a top ten country on the UN Human Development Index was assisted by new thinking and strategic ambition. We also know that every marathon is best run at a steady pace in an agreed direction, rather than by sprinting back and forth.

We try to take a clear and consistent approach to our foreign policy too, in line with the principles of empathy and partnership that were at the heart of our most recent term on the UN Security Council.

Last month we marked the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s illegal aggression must end. But how we make peace matters. Our message is clear – there can be no solution about Ukraine, without Ukraine.  A bad deal for Ukraine is a bad deal for us all. That’s why we stand in solidarity with Ukraine, now and in the future.

We believe we have taken a principled position in the Middle East, too. In Gaza, the scale of destruction and human suffering is truly shocking, with over 47,000 deaths, the majority of whom have been women and children. The ceasefire and hostage release deal brought hope to Israelis and Palestinians, and it is imperative that there be no resumption of hostilities. It is important that the focus remains on implementing this agreement. A resumption and surgeof desperately neededhumanitarian aid and the restoration of electricity are also urgently required to bring an end to the suffering of innocent civilians.

We also condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023. The taking of hostages is unconscionable. We call for the return of all hostages to their families.

Since October 2023, Ireland has contributed over €72 million in support to the people of Palestine, including €58m in support to UNRWA. The work of UNRWA is essential and irreplaceable for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region, including in Jordan, and particularly in the current context in Gaza and the West Bank.

Ireland welcomes the agreement among Arab countries on a joint plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. Ireland, the EU, and international partners have been clear that there can be no forced displacement of the civilian population in Gaza, nor occupation of the Strip.

As a small country, we are convinced that working together across borders, at the UN and in other international organisations, is the best way to tackle global challenges and deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. We see the protection and promotion of human rights as essential to securing and maintaining peace and stability globally. This is part of the reason why Ireland is running for election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term. We will make this case at the G20 too, where Ireland has been invited to participate for the first time over the course of 2025 and where we will also be active in making the case for harnessing innovation to deliver inclusive economic growth. And all of this work continues while we intensify our planning for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026. Ireland is fortunate to be at the heart of the European Union, an unprecedented peace project, a vibrant market of more than 450 million people and a catalyst for positive social change and inclusion.

Here in Jordan, the Embassy of Ireland has witnessed great strides in all aspects of the bilateral relationship. Trade between our two countries has been growing steadily and has increased by over 60 per cent since 2019. There has also been a 67 per cent increase since 2023 in Jordanian students choosing Ireland as a place to study, extending beyond the traditional strong links in the medical sector. We look forward to welcoming more students to Ireland in the coming years as well as supporting growing institutional academic partnerships between both countries. Recognising the important role that youth play in the future of Jordan, our focus of support has been on youth-related projects.

Our flagship initiative,the Jordan Young Scientist (JoYS) programme, was founded by the Embassy with great support from many partners,and is focused on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths amongst second-level students in Jordan. JoYS began with 21 schools in 2022 and has since grown to attract participants from 537 schools in 2025. The initiative is reaching every governorate, with students participating from public, private, UNRWA and military schools. The Embassy is also working with great local partners on film production, climate action and youth and women’s economic empowerment, women in STEM, as well as on humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza with partners such as the JHCO.  

Ireland also continues to support the UN agencies and NGOs providing support to refugees from Syria and elsewhere, generously hosted by Jordan. 

On cultural linkages, we will continue to focus on promoting Irish film, which has proven highly popular with Jordanian audiences.

Against the background of ever increasing positive bilateral developments, there are undoubtedly deep and complex challengesin the region and globally to navigate together over the months and years ahead. But there are opportunities too if we approach these challenges in a constructive and collaborative fashion, and use our multilateral and international institutionsto forge consensus and unleash potential. There is a famous Irish saying that reads “Ní neart go cur le chéile – There is no strength without unity.” As we celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day, so too should we raise a glass to working together as closely as we can. Our people deserve nothing less.

Marianne Bolger is ambassador of Ireland to Jordan and Iraq