Jordan was opened in January 2019 as one of the first of 22 Missions announced to date under this initiative, reflecting the importance that Ireland attaches to its relationship with Jordan. Bolger presented her credentials to His Majesty King Abdullah II last September to become Ireland's 2nd resident Ambassador.

She is a non-resident ambassador to Iraq as well. “My role cuts across political, business, cultural, humanitarian, and cultural issues to progress what is already a positive relationship between Jordan and Ireland. “Ireland completed its two-year term as a non-permanent elected member of the Council at the end of 2022.

Ireland co-chaired the Council’s informal expert group on Women, Peace, and Security, and the promotion of gender equality was a golden thread running through all of our work on the Council which during our tenure discussed the situation of women in the occupied Palestinian territory for the first time.

“When Palestinian Journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh was killed in the occupied Palestinian territory last May, we convened a meeting of Council members to address the issue of the protection of journalists. Our engagement at the council also focused on the illegal settlement expansion.

“Ireland also highlighted that 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians living in the West Bank since the UN began recording fatalities in 2015 and called for timely, transparent and independent investigations into all civilian casualties. 2022 was the deadliest on record in West Bank and call for an independent inquiry into civilian deaths,” she said.

Even though Ireland is not a NATO member and is not interested in joining, the Irish ambassador expressed strong support for the people of Ukraine in resisting the Russian war on them.

Ambassador Bolger talked about Ireland’s staunch support and active role in the European Union and spoke passionately about the importance of the Good Friday Agreement that helped resolve a long-standing violent conflict in Northern Ireland. “The Good Friday Agreement remains a model that informs our broader foreign policy engagement, particularly in the area of conflict resolution, including our engagement in Colombia, Mozambique, Palestine, and with other partners. As John Hume said following the conclusion of the Agreement: ‘We have succeeded - not because we have challenged others. We have succeeded because we have challenged ourselves. ‘“Ireland also highlighted that 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians living in the West Bank since the UN began recording fatalities in 2015 and called for timely, transparent, and independent investigations into all civilian casualties.”

She expressed the need to continue to nurture the peace brought about by the Good Friday Agreement, including by addressing the Irish legacy and its conflict resolution efforts.

Ambassador Bolger answered the questions of the audience and was honored with the Rotary flag and a letter of appreciation.