Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 1

Written Answers. - UN Peacekeeping Operations.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

76 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total amount of money owed to Ireland by the United Nations arising from Irish involvement in UN peacekeeping-peace enforcement operations; the steps Ireland is taking to exert pressure on other countries to discharge their debts to the UN so its financial position will be strengthened; the countries which are in default or in arrears in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13077/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

As of 30 April 2000, Ireland was owed approximately IR£7.1 million for the cost of providing Irish personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions abroad. The only missions for which Ireland is currently entitled to reimbursement of troop costs by the UN are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus UNFICYP, and the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor, UNTAET. During 1999, the UN repaid arrears of approximately £5.5 million to Ireland, almost entirely in respect of UNIFIL.

Continuous efforts are made by the Department of Foreign Affairs to recover from the United Nations the monies owed. The Department, through the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, makes ongoing representations to the United Nations headquarters in this regard.

The financial crisis which hinders the UN from paying outstanding monies is a direct result of the failure by many member states, in particular the US, to pay their assessed contributions to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets in full and on time. This situation has resulted in a serious day- to-day UN cash flow problem. Ireland and its EU partners have strenuously argued that all UN member states must honour their financial obligations.

The US is the major debtor and any improvement in its arrears would ease the situation considerably. The United States Administration has now tabled a plan, agreed with congress, to deal with the arrears problem which also contains proposals for reform of the UN financing system. This plan will be the subject of detailed negotiations at the United Nations and Ireland, together with our EU partners, will participate constructively in the process.

A successful outcome to the UN financial crisis will lead to a reduction and eventual clearance of debts owing to Ireland and other troop contributing countries. In the meantime, I can assure the House that Ireland's permanent mission to the UN in New York will continue to actively pursue the outstanding amounts of arrears.

I have reported in an earlier reply on my discussions in New York on 24-25 April which included peacekeeping issues.