An Irish judge has been elected the first female president of the European Court of Human Rights.
Judge Síofra O'Leary, who succeeds Robert Spano of Iceland in the role, is due to serve from November 1st this year until July 2024.
The 53-year-old, who is from Dublin, has been a judge of the court since July 2015.
She became vice-president of the court in January this year.
She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from UCD, and a PhD from the European University Institute in Florence, Italy.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said: "I wish to congratulate Judge O'Leary on her election as president of the European Court of Human Rights.
"Judge O'Leary has served with great distinction since her appointment to the court, and her election as president is a mark of the high regard in which she is held.
"It is a source of pride that the first female president of the court should be an Irish judge.
"The court is central to the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law in Europe.
"Never have these ideals and principles been more important", he added.
While president of the Law Society of Ireland, Michelle Ní Longáin, also welcomed the "historic appointment".
"The European Court of Human Rights has helped shape the Ireland we know today, playing a pivotal role in improving our personal rights and increasing access to justice.
"As we live through extraordinary times, the European Court of Human Rights is vital in the upholding of law across Europe and in paving the way for increased access to justice for all."
"As the first woman to be elected to this position, Judge O'Leary will lead the shaping of the future of the European Court of Human Rights.
"It is very important for women at all levels in the legal profession in Ireland and internationally, and for society as a whole, to see the appointment of a woman judge to such an important role."
The Strasbourg-based court was set up in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.
