Peace in the Desert Lecture with Michael Collins

The Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law presented "Northern Ireland: The Path from Conflict to Peace."

Michael Collins, Ireland's Ambassador to the United States, gave the Saltman Center's annual Peace in the Desert™ lecture on May 22, 2012 at the Boyd School of Law's Thomas & Mack Moot Court Facility.

Michael Collins has served as Ireland's Ambassador to the United States since Sept. 18, 2007. Since his appointment, Ambassador Collins has travelled to all major centers in the United States. With a particular focus on supporting Irish business and economic development, he has also spoken extensively on contemporary Ireland and the Northern Ireland peace process. Ambassador Collins was named "Diplomat of the Year" by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in May 2008.

Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Collins worked for six years as Second Secretary-General at the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland). In that capacity he worked closely with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Northern Ireland political parties on the Northern Ireland peace process. Between 2001 and 2007 he was a participant at all the major peace process events that culminated in the 2006 St Andrews Agreement and the formation of the Northern Ireland Executive. He was also responsible for European Union issues, including Ireland's EU presidency in 2004 as well as all UN and international affairs.

A native of Dublin, Ambassador Collins was educated at Blackrock College and Trinity College, Dublin. He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Third Secretary in 1974 and his early diplomatic postings brought him to Rome (1975-77), New York (1982-86) and Washington (1993-95).

Ambassador Collins served as Ireland’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1995-99 during which time he was also Ireland’s Ambassador to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Emirates. He also served from 1999-2001 as Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

Ambassador Collins was the Head of Press and spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1993. While serving in Dublin in the late 1980s he also worked on international arms control and disarmament issues and represented Ireland at numerous international meetings on these issues including at the United Nations in New York and the International Conference on Disarmament and Development in 1989.

Webcast: Click here.

Free and open to the public.

For more information, call (702) 895-2428.