Written Answers. - Irish National Committee for UNESCO.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
189
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
further to Parliamentary Question No. 192 of 4 March 1998, the name of the chairperson and members of the Irish Committee for UNESCO; the date of appointment in the case of each member; the number of meetings held in each year from 1987 to 1998; if a meeting took place in each year; when the committee is due for reappointment; the changes, if any, he will be making to allow for a wider membership than those working in the Departments named in his reply; and the meetings attended in Ireland or abroad by members on behalf of the committee in each year for the period from 1987 to 1998.
[6887/98]
The constitution of UNESCO provides that each member state should make its own administrative arrangements in relation to the work of UNESCO. For many countries this takes the form of a national commission involving Government ministries and other interests involved in the areas that come within UNESCO's competence. Between 1987 and 1991 matters relating to UNESCO were administered by the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Foreign Affairs in consultation with other Government Departments as appropriate.
To provide for wider consultation on UNESCO issues, the Minister for Education and Science in 1991 invited other relevant Government Departments to participate in an interdepartmental committee known as the Irish National Committee for UNESCO. The members of the committee who represent their Departments are not appointed, but assume their position on the committee by virtue of the responsibility assigned to them for UNESCO matters in their respective Departments.
The current membership of the committee and their dates of appointments are as follows:
Mr. John Dennehy, Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, is anex officio Chairman of the National Committee for UNESCO, (15/1/98),
Mr. Sé Goulding, Department of Education and Science, (20/2/97),
Ms Eilish Bergin, Department of Education and Science, (10/11/97),
Mr. Fearghas de Stok, Department of Education and Science, (3/5/94),
Mr. Brian Nason, Department of Foreign Affairs, (1/9/97),
Mr. Patrick Sammon, Department of Foreign Affairs, (2/1/97),
Mr. Conor O'Malley, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, (7/9/95),
Mr. Eugene Keane, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, (1/6/91),
Ms Veronica Healy, Department of the Environment and Local Government (7/9/95),
Mr. Michael Pender, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, (3/9/93).
One plenary meeting of the Irish National Committee was held in the years 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997. There were no plenary meetings in the years 1994 and 1996. Members of the committee represent Ireland at the UNESCO General Conference which is held in Paris once every two years. The committee represented Ireland at the 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997 general conferences. The Departments of Education and Science and Foreign Affairs represented Ireland jointly at the 1987 and 1989 general conferences. In addition, the committee was represented at the European Regional Conference, Lisbon, in 1993. While it is not envisaged at present that other Government Departments will be required to assign an official to the committee, it is open to them to do so if considered appropriate.
