On Friday, the French Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad, Éléonore Caroit, spoke to a crowded GMB about the importance of retaining international institutions for global cooperation. After introductory remarks by the Director of the Long Room Hub, Professor Patrick Geoghegan, as well as Vice Provost, Professor Orla Sheils, the Minister Delegate began her talk by discussing the historical context of multilateralism in the aftermath of the Second World War, before describing the overt threats the system now faces, referencing the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the US earlier this year. She warned that international law is needed and must be respected, stating that “multilateral rules protect nations.”
She further hailed the benefits that the international system has yielded, noting the cooperation shown between countries during existential crises like the Covid Pandemic. Having spent her childhood in the Dominican Republic, she noted how this upbringing influenced her own beliefs, especially regarding international aid, as well as the fact of holding multiple national identities. She also highlighted the ties between France and Ireland, at one stage quoting Samuel Beckett when discussing the importance of “baby steps” in developing international law.
When asked about her view on Irish neutrality, the French Minister Delegate simply described it as very interesting, contrasting it with that of Swiss neutrality. When also posed a question about the current student protests in France, she remarked that she was “heartbroken” to see the images coming out of the movement, and noted that the protests say more than just dissatisfaction with budget allocations. She defended the Government’s response however, noting that the French Interior Minister had stated the force being used by police was proportionate and that she believed him. Answering a final question on populist nationalism in the US, Mrs. Caroit commented that it posed challenges to the strength of democratic safeguards, and that she was currently part of a political fight in France to protect democracy.
The Minister Delegate ended her speech by urging students to come to France, emphasising the importance of exchange programmes for the Irish–French relationship, and Professor Geoghegan closed the event with an anecdote about former French President Charles de Gaulle visiting the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell on his first trip after his resignation in 1969. The event was organised by the French Embassy and the Trinity Long Room Hub in collaboration with the College Historical Society, Politics Society, French Society, Europa Society, DU Modern Languages, and SOFIA.
