Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 2

Written Answers. - Volcker/Ogata Report.

Seán Power

Question:

26 Mr. Power asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the report of the independent advisory group on United Nations financing, commissioned by the Ford Foundation, has been made available to his Department; and, if so, his views on whether the recommendations in the report will strengthen the United Nations and the timely financing of its vital activities.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The recently published report of the independent advisory group on financing of the United Nations, knows as the Volcker/Ogata report has been made available to my Department and its recommendations are being carefully studied.

The report was prepared by the Ford Foundation in consultation with the United Nations. The advisory group was co-chaired by Mr. Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, and Shijuro Ogata, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan. The genesis of the report is to be found in the Secretary-General's 1992 document entitled An Agenda for Peace, in which he indicated that he had requested a select group of qualified persons of high international repute to examine the entire question of UN financing and submit a report to him.

I welcome publication of the Volcker/Ogata report, which contains a number of recommendations intended to provide more consistent and reliable means of funding UN activities, both in the interest of the UN's effectiveness, and to facilitate the work of the Secretary-General. The central argument of the reports is that the UN must be assured of the timely availability of funds to meet the obligations placed on it by the member states. The report addresses in particular the methods of financing the UN Regular Budget, Peacekeeping Operations and the UN's humanitarian and development activities.

The report's recommendations are likely to be formally considered at the 48th session of the General Assembly this autumn. The Secretary-General is at present preparing his response to the report and is expected to submit proposals to the Assembly on its implementation.

In the post-Cold War era, the United Nations is developing rapidly and is being asked to assume many new and important responsibilities. It is essential that the UN be provided with the necessary financial resources to discharge the responsibilities assigned to it by the membership. Ireland has consistently supported efforts to place UN financing on a firm and secure footing and will accordingly play an active role in the consideration of the Volcker/Ogata report when it comes before the General Assembly.