An Irish woman has been appointed legal counsel for the United Nations and Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs.
The appointment of Patricia O’Brien, who is currently legal adviser at the Department of Foreign Affairs, was announced today by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.
In her new position, Ms O’Brien will advise rMr Ban in all legal matters and act on his behalf. She will also head the Office of Legal Affairs at UN Headquarters in New York, which has a staff of 160.
The office provides advisory services to the United Nations and its principal organs, carries out the treaty depository functions of the Secretary-General and promotes the progressive development and codification of international law.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin described the appointment as “a great honour" for both Ms O’Brien and for Ireland.
“It reflects very well on the State’s long-standing commitment to an international order based on the rule of law,” Mr Martin added.
Prior to joining the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms O’Brien was a senior legal adviser in the Office of the Attorney General. She also served as legal counsellor at Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels.
Educated at Trinity College Dublin and King’s Inns, she has practised at the Bars of Ireland and Canada and taught law at the University of British Columbia.