Statement from President Higgins on the death of Peter Sutherland
Date: Sun 7th Jan, 2018 | 10:43
“It is with sadness that I have learned of the death of Peter Sutherland, former Attorney General, European Commissioner and Director General of the GATT/World Trade Organisation.
In recent years in particular Peter Sutherland concentrated on what were some of the important global issues of the day, and he leaves an important legacy through his work as UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration, having brought the importance of migration to the forefront of public thought and policy.
Tirelessly campaigning for global solutions to human trafficking and forced migration, he became a passionate and influential voice for the rights of the 65 million people who have been forced to flee their homes and homelands.
All of this came after a lifetime of contributions to public life at home and abroad.
A passionate European, throughout his career Peter Sutherland remained deeply committed to peaceful cooperation and integration in Europe, promoting greater awareness of the importance and possibilities of Irish engagement in European decision making.
By instigating the EU’s Erasmus programme he contributed to the growing mobility and skills development of thousands of European students and the creation of countless cooperation agreements between academic institutions across the EU.
His loss will be felt most acutely by his family and friends, and as President of Ireland I wish to express my deepest sympathies to them.”