Although our two island nations are far apart, connections between Ireland and Indonesia are growing. Our trade with Indonesia grows stronger every year. The number of Indonesian students studying in Ireland increases every year, and I hope that many more young Indonesians will benefit from our excellent education system in the coming years. 

The Irish community in Indonesia is small, only a few hundred people, but active and keen to increase links. Indeed, a new Irish Chamber of Commerce and business network will be launched as one of our Saint Patrick’s Day events.

And yet even the notion of “celebrating” in our world today provokes doubt and hesitation for many people, and for good reason. We have witnessed more than two years of unprovoked Russian brutality in Ukraine. The appalling Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 last year was stark in its depravity. The killing of tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza in the period since has also been viewed with horror around the world.

Ireland has a clear and principled position on these conflicts. We have demanded accountability internationally for Russia’s illegal invasion and we are one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine’s path to European Union membership. We condemned outright Hamas’ terrorist attack of Oct. 7, and we have called at every juncture for all hostages in Gaza to be released unconditionally. 

We have also strongly argued, since the early weeks of the conflict, for an upholding of international humanitarian law, a humanitarian cease-fire and for sustained humanitarian assistance to be provided for the over 2 million desperate civilians in Gaza. Protecting civilians in conflict, all civilians, everywhere, is our highest priority. 

Ireland’s own history includes experiences of famine, poverty and forced migration. Even the relative growth and prosperity we have enjoyed since joining the EU in 1973 co-existed, at least until the 1990s, with conflict very close to home in Northern Ireland.