Pope Francis has appointed the CEO of the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland Teresa Devlin, to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
The Commission serves as an independent institution connected to the Holy See, with an advisory function at the service of the Pope.
Ms Devlin is one of 10 new appointees who join 9 other members who have been reappointed along with another member who was appointed for a 3-year term last year.
The Commission, which reports directly to Pope Francis, became part of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in June, when Praedicate Evangelium - the new constitution for the Roman Curia - took effect.
The President of the Protection Commission, Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley has described the Commission as "a very special opportunity" to carry on a mission of promoting a culture of safeguarding in the Curia itself.
Teresa Devlin has worked with National Board of Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church here since 2009 and took up the post as CEO in January 2015.
The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Archbishop has welcomed the announcement.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said the appointment was international recognition of the work of the National Board and "the significant contribution it has made" to assist the Church in Ireland to put in place robust child safeguarding measures.
In a statement he said he was confident that Ms Devlin would work positively with the Commission and bring her "extensive experience" of working with the Catholic Church in Ireland to the sharing and development of safeguarding best practice initiatives across the global Church.
"It is also my hope that Teresa's presence on such an important international body will help bring back to Ireland fresh insights for the benefit of safeguarding in this country.", he said.