asked the Minister for External Affairs for what period during the present year he will be out of the country on United Nations' Organisation business.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister's Absence on UN Business.
8.
The Special Session is due to begin on April 21st and the Ordinary Annual Session will begin in mid September. I hope to attend these sessions for as long as I consider necessary and this, to a large extent, may depend upon the progress made with the restoration of mandatory assessments for peace keeping.
Would the Minister or the Taoiseach say if it is the usual practice for countries to be represented by their Ministers for External Affairs or Foreign Secretaries or if it is usual that their permanent representatives be either the Deputy Prime Minister, the Prime Minister or the Tánaiste?
A number of Foreign Ministers attend UN assemblies. They attend for as long as they think necessary and that is what I propose to do in the case of these two sessions.
Surely the Minister is in the nature of a permanent representative and surely it is a fact that these other people attend only on special occasions to make a special contribution to the General Assembly Debate?
The Dáil appointed me as Minister for External Affairs on the nomination of the Taoiseach and I have the responsibility of going where I think I should go and staying as long as I think I should stay in order to promote the interests of the country.
Does the Minister allow himself any time while away for any language tuition?
I could use some bad language on the subject of language tuition.
Could the Minister say what period he spent in the United Nations last year?
About two months.
Would the Taoiseach not consider that unnecessary?
The Deputy is asking me the question.
The Minister got under the Taoiseach's umbrella when he replied to my earlier supplementary question, but I shall ask him if he does not think he should be here and have somebody else as good as, or even better than, himself at the United Nations?
You might easily get somebody better but they are not in this position, and as long as I am Minister for External Affairs and the Taoiseach thinks I should be there, I shall do what I think is right, no matter what the Deputy says.
(Interruptions.)
Does the Minister remember the time when he was giving out about tall hats?
I think he should look for Sabbatical leave.