The first Irish person to hold the post, Mr O’Flaherty will serve a six-year term after being elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in January.

In a statement marking the beginning of his mandate yesterday, he confirmed that his first visit as commissioner will be to Ukraine.

He said: “I intend to inject a human rights perspective into the greatest challenges facing our societies. I can think of nothing more urgent than addressing the human rights consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has caused terrible human suffering and destruction.”

He also identified other areas where stronger human rights protection is urgently needed, including the climate crisis, the governance of artificial intelligence, freedom of expression, migration and the rise of hate speech, including antisemitism and anti-Muslim attacks.

A significant part of his agenda will also be devoted to bringing the struggles of marginalised people and victims of discrimination to the forefront of human rights discussions. “In particular, Roma and Travellers face an intolerable situation that requires greater attention,” he said.

He also highlighted his intention to focus on youth, socio-economic rights and human rights defenders, as well as to use his mandate to contribute to the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Mr O’Flaherty said: “I step into this new role with a sense of great responsibility, as well as deep appreciation and respect for the work of my predecessor, Dunja Mijatović.

“Human rights affect every aspect of our lives. At a time when they face multiple challenges, we must recommit ourselves to weaving them into the fabric of our societies.

“This will require a concerted effort and I intend to play my part to the best of my ability by accompanying and standing up for rights holders across the member states.”