JOINT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS debate -
Tuesday, 7 Jul 2009

UN Priorities: Discussion with UN Secretary General.

Chairman

Apologies have been received from Deputies Darragh O'Brien, Rory O'Hanlon, Vice Chairman, and Michael Noonan. Unfortunately, they are unable to be with us today.

It is a great honour and privilege to welcome the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to our committee. Ireland is a strong advocate of the purposes, principles and potential of the United Nations. The UN embodies the principle of our common humanity and we have a shared interest as well as a moral obligation to promote that common humanity in the world today.

Ireland is deeply involved through our Irish aid programme, our missionaries, our NGOs and embassies in promoting the millennium development goals, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We are proud of our people who do this work and we greatly appreciate the Secretary General's role in supporting this work.

The challenges confronting the world on a daily basis, such as global security, economic downturns, climate change, food and energy security, and global pandemics such as HIV-Aids, tuberculosis, malaria and even swine flu, we must tackle head on to demonstrate our commitment to a secure, safe and healthy future for all humanity. Together we have the people and the resources to achieve these objectives if we all have the will and the courage to do so.

Ireland is proud of its role in the history of the United Nations and we are equally committed to playing a full part in its future. Let us be clear, the challenges we face have intensified in the past year. We have seen the devastation caused across the world by the current economic crisis, particularly in the developing world. Reaching agreement on a comprehensive and inclusive approach to world trade has never been more urgent.

Ireland will continue to work to support the Secretary General's efforts for UN reform and we are grateful to him for the priority he has given to this task. Much remains to be done in the area of reform and he can be sure of our support with this difficult challenge.

Last year saw the 50th anniversary of the first occasion on which the Irish Defence Forces wore the blue beret. In the 50 years that followed Irish soldiers continued to wear that beret with pride and distinction. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice and we will always remember them with great pride.

Last year, in Paris, I had the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant General Patrick Nash, the then Irish Commander of the EU mission in Chad. More than 400 Irish personnel participated in the challenging mission which was mandated by the UN. It brings security and humanitarian aid to the many thousands of refugees and displaced people in camps on the eastern border of Chad. We feel a great sense of pride at the part being played by our Irish peacekeeping forces in that difficult and dangerous mission.

Secretary General, the eradication of poverty and hunger and meeting the millennium development goals are among the biggest challenges facing the world today. Despite the global financial crisis that has affected Ireland disproportionately vis-à-vis our fellow European partners, and the difficult adjustments to our aid budget, Ireland can be proud that we are now the sixth largest donor of official aid in the world in terms of GNP per head of population.

The situation in the Middle East, particularly the conflict between Israel and the people of Palestine, is an issue that has greatly occupied the Secretary General. We are deeply committed to the two state solution, which Ireland was the first to propose, and to the achievement of peace, security and prosperity for all the people of Israel and Palestine. We have travelled to Israel and the West Bank and in a fortnight we will send a delegation to Gaza to witness the tragic consequences of the conflict and to meet UN personnel from UNRWA, led by another Irishman, Mr. John Ging.

This committee has repeatedly condemned the use of violence on both sides in this conflict, and called for an end to the construction of illegal settlements and the opening of border crossings to allow humanitarian aid to get through. We respect the right of the Israeli and the Palestinian people to live in peace and harmony and in an agreed two state solution.

We congratulate the Secretary General on the interest he has shown in Burma-Myanmar. This committee has constantly called for greater democracy and human rights in Burma. We have been resolute in our calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow political prisoners. I understand that Mr. Ban recently returned from Burma and I was disappointed to hear that the military Government of Burma refused him access to Aung San Suu Kyi while he was there.

The situation in Darfur remains extremely volatile and is also of grave concern. Just four days ago, an Irish aid worker from Dublin, Sharon Commins, was kidnapped along with her colleague from GOAL, Hilda Kawuki from Uganda. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has sent a high level mission to the area to intensify efforts to secure the release of both women. I am glad to say that the Sudanese authorities have co-operated fully with the Irish mission to date. This committee will raise their cases with the Sudanese ambassador when we meet him here tomorrow.

I now invite the Secretary General to address the committee following which we will have responses from members.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon

I thank the Chairman. Distinguished Deputies and Senators of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dia duit. It is a great pleasure to visit Ireland and especially to have this opportunity to meet representatives of the Irish people. I first thank them for their global citizenship. Ireland's contributions span the international agenda and have done so for years.

Recently Ireland marked half a century of participation in UN peacekeeping. We are grateful for your engagement in Chad, Kosovo and elsewhere. I stress again, as I did this morning, that Irish efforts in missions led by the European Union are fully in keeping with Ireland's commitment to the United Nations. The country was equally early in its support for disarmament and helped bring the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty into being. More recently, Ireland has played an important role in achieving a global ban on cluster munitions.

Ireland is a key part of the peacebuilding commission and of efforts to focus more attention on mediation and conflict prevention. Irish nationals continue to serve with distinction throughout the United Nations. Dr. Mary Robinson helped raise the profile of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Ms Patricia O'Brien is my principal legal adviser today and the first female legal counsel to hold the post in the history of the United Nations. Earlier the Chairman mentioned Mr. John Ging who is our humanitarian director for Gaza. He was the very face of the United Nations during the hostilities earlier this year. We are very proud of the work these Irish people do.

I also stress the importance of the committee's role too. Parliamentarians occupy an increasingly important position in the international arena. Through legislative power they can give domestic meaning to international standards and agreements and invest financial resources in global causes. Through their deliberations they can set an example of dialogue, democracy and the peaceful resolution of differences. Since most of today's major challenges have an international dimension, Ireland can be a vital link between the global and the local. Irish politicians can bring to their constituents a sense of how global trends and circumstances affect their daily lives. In the same vein, they can bring local concerns to an international arena. This is a very good opportunity for me to engage with members of this Parliament. It is also why the United Nations has made a pointed effort in recent years to open its doors to parliamentarians.

I will now say a few words about where we need the committee's help today and then we can open the floor to discussion. First, I will speak about climate change. It is one of the greatest collective challenges and responsibility that we face. Emissions are rising and the clock is ticking. In December the world's governments will gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a new global climate agreement. I am concerned that not enough is being done to respond to the scientific urgency of the situation. All countries need to do more. Developed countries, in particular, have a historical responsibility to lead by example and to cut their own emissions while helping developing countries with mitigation and adaptation. I urge Irish parliamentarians to do all they can to help governments seal the deal in Copenhagen. This is a political and moral responsibility particularly for parliamentarians and political leaders in the developed countries.

Second, I will discuss the economic crisis. It has affected every part of the world, including Ireland, and the impact could span years. Around the world millions more families are being pushed into poverty and 50 million jobs could be lost this year alone. The crisis disproportionately impacts on the poorest and most vulnerable. That is why I have underscored the importance of delivering on pledges of aid to achieve the millennium development goals. Ireland's long tradition of generous aid and support for development and UN agencies, in particular, has helped to save and transform lives. It has helped subsistence farmers increase farm productivity, funded universal access to primary education, invested in maternal health and proved that aid works. Ireland knows that this is not charity but is an imperative for global well-being and peace.

I know that aid has contracted recently as a result of the global economic crisis. However, I have been heartened to hear from Irish officials that this is just a temporary decline and that Ireland has given a commitment to reach the 0.7% gross national product target by 2012 – three years ahead of the EU and MDG timetable. I am also gratified by the commitment given by the Taoiseach today that 20% of ODA will be spent to address the food crisis. I have been urging all governments around the world to uphold their aid commitments and I appeal to the Irish Government too. We cannot abandon the poor and vulnerable at this time.

We will continue to need Ireland's help in strengthening the United Nations. Our times demand a renewed multilateralism and that requires a revitalised UN which has been my commitment from day one. The multilateral structures created generations ago must be made more accountable, representative, effective and transparent. That is why I have worked hard to maintain budget discipline. I have signed management compacts with senior managers, established an ethics office with wide-ranging powers and I am creating a more mobile workforce. It may sound arcane to some but it is the kind of nuts and bolts reform we need that will build a better instrument of service. Ireland has strongly backed these efforts, including our aim to deliver as one through joint planning, funding and implementation.

Ambassador Kavanagh in New York has played a critical facilitating role on system-wide coherence that has generated a real momentum for change. Pilot programmes supported by Ireland are beginning to yield results. This country is really one of our reform's main champions and I am grateful to it for backing me on one of my main priorities.

It is good to know that Ireland continues to place the United Nations at the centre of its foreign policy. Across our agenda Ireland punches above its weight and proves that a country does not have to be big and powerful to play an invaluable role at the UN. It shows the value of global solidarity during these troubled times and I look forward to deepening our partnership. The Chairman has raised many issues. He mentioned the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, Sudan and elsewhere. I am now ready to have an exchange of views with the committee. A thousand thanks to everyone or, as you might prefer to say, go raibh míle maith agaibh.

Chairman

When the Secretary General started his presentation he said "dia dhuit". In reply I shall say "dia is Mhuire dhuit" and "céad míle fáilte" which means a hundred thousand welcomes. We are very generous with our welcomes.

Members will be aware that the Secretary General's time with us is limited and I ask that the responses from party spokesmen be approximately three minutes while the remaining members have one minute or a little more. I now call on Deputy Billy Timmins, the spokesperson for the Fine Gael Party, to commence proceedings.

Deputy Billy Timmins

I thank the Chairman and join with him in welcoming Mr. Ban and his staff here today. I also welcome Ambassador Kavanagh who, as the Secretary General has mentioned, has done a great deal of work on UN reform. I am aware of his extensive experience in the UN. I particularly welcome Mr. Ban's comments about the legitimacy of the EU's peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the United Nations. His comments are welcome.

Earlier the Secretary General mentioned the nuts and bolts of UN reform. Historically and currently Ireland had very positive feelings for the UN but there is also a yearning for reform. Does the Secretary General think that, perhaps with the passing of time, the UN's construction is slightly flawed from the point of view of the five permanent security members having a veto? Has he sought to expand the number of permanent members or dilute the veto? On occasion we feel it ties the hands of the UN in doing what the general council wants done.

On the aid budget, with the contraction of the world economy, the amount of aid in real terms will be reduced. By the same token as the economy expanded over the past decade aid funding increased. Is the Secretary General concerned that the number of people suffering from hunger around the globe has not been reduced on the scale that it should have been in times of plenty?

The Secretary General mentioned various areas of concern. At the moment we are concerned about Darfur because the Irish aid worker, Ms Commins, is being held captive somewhere. For historical or geographical reasons, or depending upon what was on the news, we deal with various issues here. One day it is Gaza, the next it is Burma or Darfur. Looking at it broadly, without emotion, what are the main areas of concern to the Secretary General? Where are the main difficulties? The Pakistan-Afghanistan border does not get much publicity here. We might emphasise or expend emotion on areas which are worthy in their own right but may not warrant the attention we give them.

Chairman

The next speaker is Deputy Michael D. Higgins, spokesperson for the Labour Party.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins

Tá fíor chaoin fáilte roimh an Rúnaí Ginearálta. The Secretary General is most welcome. While his reference to Irish Aid is appreciated the efficacy of our aid and commitments will properly be judged against the problem they address, whether world poverty, trade, justice or economic development. I wish the Secretary General well and hope that his period in office will see the resolution of some of the great challenges facing us, appreciating the new forms of economic relationships required to deal with them. If the institutions envisaged in the founding days of the United Nations had existed we probably could have avoided some of the worst excesses of the unemployment to which the Secretary General refers.

If the Tobin tax had been implemented at a particular time we might have avoided the worst forms of disgraceful international robbery of citizens. I wish the Secretary General well in respect of international law. I appreciate the courage with which he has faced the illegal detention of Aung San Suu Kyi. I am proud to say that I taught John Ging and I appreciate the Secretary General's support for him and for the manner in which John Ging's reputation was defended.

I wish him well too in other matters which our permanent representative at the United Nations has supported, such as making progress on the reduction of armaments. Our achievement in respect of cluster munitions is one part of that general proposal. In formulating ethical foreign policy we all face the difficulty of dealing with the international media monopolies. One of the great advantages of the Secretary General's visit is that it draws the attention of media that are often not very interested in a deep way in foreign policy or international affairs. It is an opportunity to redress that.

We are concerned when two women aid workers are held and kidnapped and we hope that they will be released safely. My party will support any initiative that the Secretary General takes to bring proposals for new paradigms of economic relationships and interdependency that respect our creative cultural diversity, rather than imposing single paths to development. Those are the views my party reflects through its association with the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International. We are concerned about the rise in unemployment and want to create a universal basis for a social economy. I thank the Secretary General for his presence here and for the moral help he will give to an interest in international relations.

Deputy Seán Ardagh

I join the Chairman and the spokespersons for the other parties in welcoming the Secretary General this afternoon.

Ireland is a very strong supporter of the United Nations and we put it at the centre of our foreign policy. We are concerned about the position in Sudan and north Darfur. The United Nations has been very helpful to the NGOs, GOAL does a great deal of work in that area. We are concerned about our Irish citizen, Sharon Commins and the Ugandan citizen, Hilda Kawuki. We would very much appreciate whatever the Secretary General can do to help secure their release.

The United Nations is a major player on the world stage and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs is concerned about climate change, the millennium goals and the hunger task force. That is close to our hearts. We wish the Secretary General well in Copenhagen in December, and in encouraging all countries to meet their commitments on eliminating hunger.

Deputy Alan Shatter

Like other members, I welcome the Secretary General. Reform of the Security Council and the manner in which the veto is used is vital. On occasion, peace missions have been vetoed that have been taken up regionally to resolve conflicts. It is necessary to transform the architecture of the Security Council to represent the world as it is today as opposed to the way it was at the end of the Second World War.

I would be interested to hear from the Secretary General what is happening in Myanmar which he visited last weekend. The Government is oppressing its people. Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for far too long and faces imprisonment. I know the Secretary General's meeting with her was obstructed. I would be interested in hearing what he has to say about that. This committee has regularly expressed support for her and sought her release. If that country is ever to be saved and its population released from slavery it is crucial that she is allowed the possibility of becoming its leader.

My colleagues raised the issue of the two aid workers recently kidnapped in Darfur. We do not focus adequately on that conflict. There have been hundreds of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. Does the Secretary General see any resolution to that conflict or will it simply continue?

For once, I will stick to my promise of being brief and allow others to raise issues on other conflict zones but I wish briefly to mention Iran. Political events there in the past two or three weeks have added to the concern expressed in the West about the possibility of a nuclear Iran. A major human rights issue arises from the volatility there and the suppression of those who attempted to engage in democratic politics. There has always been a difficulty there which has been exacerbated. I would appreciate the Secretary General's views on that.

Senator Mark Daly

I welcome the Secretary General to the Oireachtas. He echoed the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy when he mentioned Ireland punching above its weight. Kennedy also said that the United Nations was the last best hope for mankind and the Secretary General is the personification of that hope which is quite a burden to bear. The UN special rapporteur on the occupied territories has said that the Israeli action in Gaza was heading towards a holocaust and has urged the United Nations to take action to protect the civilian population from being punished. He said this action could amount to crimes against humanity. What does the Secretary General think is the solution to the human rights crisis in Gaza?

His predecessor, Kofi Annan, drew up a UN global terrorism strategy which the General Assembly adopted in September 2006. One of the five pillars of this strategy called on the UN to deter states from supporting terrorism. What action is the United Nations taking to investigate the links between Iran and Hamas which the EU has designated as a terrorist organisation?

Senator David Norris

I was privileged to be in Dublin Castle to hear the Secretary General's speech this morning. I was very pleased, as a teacher of English, that he mentioned George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, W. B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney. Mary Robinson, who was a distinguished colleague of mine and is an old friend, represented me successfully at the European Court of Human Rights some years ago. I very much welcome the Secretary General's strong stance in support of the international court of criminal law. The Irish people support the United Nations overwhelmingly, as I do. I was asked by a number of people to deliver to the Secretary General various tomes of different sizes and weights, but I felt that would be inappropriate.

I agree with everything my colleagues said and therefore will not reiterate it but I want to raise a specific and clear instance, and that is something about which I believe the Secretary General will be concerned. It is a matter that concerns the most vulnerable group of all, that is, children. It is a matter in which the United Nations has direct responsibility. It has been raised here in the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and in the Seanad, and it concerns the question of the Kosovo Roma. The Secretary General spoke about positive moves in Kosovo but there is nothing positive for the situation of the Kosovo Roma who have been resettled and rehoused with their children by a group, including the United Nations, on what is effectively a poisonous tailings pond. The highest levels ever recorded of lead poisoning — lead in blood and in tissue samples — have been recorded among these people. Children are currently born malformed and mentally impaired.

I ask the Secretary General to justify my faith in the United Nations and the whole democratic process — I have been contacted by these people from a foreign country, distant and strange to me — and the significance the Secretary General has attached to his visit to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs by asking him to intervene immediately and ensure these unfortunate people are evacuated straight away. I thank the Secretary General very much for any interest he may take in this and, with his permission, I will give to members of his entourage a very brief document which outlines the specific case.

Senator Dominic Hannigan

I welcome the Secretary General and his staff to Dublin and commend him on his recent visit to Burma. I am aware he brought up the subject of Aung San Suu Kyi's captivity. She spent her 5,000th day in captivity on Sunday last. I understand he also raised the issue of the Karen people currently involved in strife with the Burmese Government. I reiterate what the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said last weekend, that until there is a release of political prisoners in Burma and real dialogue with ethnic groups, there will be major doubts about the credibility of next year's elections. What advice can the Secretary General give us in terms of the pressure the international community can put on the Burmese generals to ensure democracy returns to Burma?

Senator Ann Ormonde

I, too, welcome the Secretary General. I refer in particular to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which recognises the distinct impact of conflict on women and the value of their role in conflict resolution. I would like to know the updated position on that. The Secretary General mentioned that there is reform of the United Nations and that he will bring it towards more modern thinking. What is the updated position on protecting women in their participation in debate, be it at local, national or international level? As the only woman on this committee, I have a particular role in ensuring that resolution is implemented fully.

Senator Maurice Cummins

I welcome His Excellency. There is grave concern about the testing of weapons by North Korea, which has a destabilising effect on the region and indeed the world. I ask the Secretary General to give us his view on that position. I would like to hear the Secretary General's views also on the current internal unrest in China.

Chairman

I call Deputy Tom Kitt who was previously in charge of Irish Aid.

Deputy Tom Kitt

I thank the Secretary General for his contribution in Dublin Castle. I will refer briefly to two issues. First, I welcome the Secretary General's strong emphasis on the reform of the United Nations. In the past the United Nations has been accused of passing many resolutions and putting too much emphasis on rhetoric rather than action, but we are living in different economic times and there are greater economic challenges. I welcome the Secretary General's emphasis on dealing with those economic issues. He referred to issues of trade and development and the disparities and inequalities between the North and South.

Second, on an issue raised by some of my colleagues, during my time as Minister of State with responsibility for development I visited Sudan on two occasions. I ask the Secretary General for his overview of the political position in that country. I last visited Sudan in 2004 when I travelled from Al Fashir to Kutum from where, sadly, one of our aid workers, Sharon Commins, and her colleague, Hilda Kawuki, were abducted. I am personally aware of how dangerous the situation is there because five years ago I travelled, against the advice of my officials, to this village where GOAL was doing fantastic work — I emphasise the tremendous work GOAL and others are doing in those regions in providing nutrition and medical aid for young children, in many cases in dangerous circumstances. I acknowledge the support we got from the United Nations on the ground at that time. I ask the Secretary General to give the committee his overall assessment in terms of the broader political issue that will bring this conflict to an end. I echo the requests from colleagues that the United Nations should do everything possible to achieve the release of the two aid workers but we face the overall challenge of finding a resolution.

I was in Sudan five years ago and witnessed the suffering of those in refugee camps and the work of Irish Aid. I ask the Secretary General's opinion on the overall political settlement there and in particular the role of the African Union because it clearly has a strong responsibility in many of these countries.

Chairman

Members have raised many issues. I am aware the Secretary General is under pressure in terms of time but he might respond briefly to the questions raised.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon

Chairman, distinguished Deputies and Senators, I thank you for your strong support for the United Nations' cause and the concerns you raised about many areas where the United Nations and the international community, together with the European Union, have been working together. Members have raised almost all the subjects I have been dealing with and therefore it may take some time for me to answer the questions one by one. I will try to be very brief and give some ideas since the members appear to already know many issues in detail.

I will first answer the questions on Myanmar followed by the situation in Darfur and Sudan, nuclear issues involving Iran and North Korea, how to protect the vulnerable groups of women and children, climate change, which I have explained not at length but I made my point clear, and trade issues. I will be as brief as possible.

The Myanmar military authorities have got the message from the United Nations and the international community. The main purpose of my visit here was to convey exactly and as strongly as possible the concerns about the human rights situation and the lack of a democratisation process. I pressed that message as strongly as I could.

I was deeply disappointed when my request for a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi was not granted. I talked to senior general Than Shwe and first expressed my strong disappointment about that. I told him he has missed a unique opportunity to engage with the international community, which was serious about examining possibilities of helping his country, but that it was a setback to its efforts to extend a warm hand of friendship to assist his country.

I had an opportunity to address a public group. It was unprecedented for any foreign dignitary, particularly a Secretary General of the United Nations, to address a group of approximately 500 people, including Government ministers, diplomats, NGOs and civilians. I made a strong case outlining the expectations of the international community and what the Myanmar Government should do to progress towards democratisation. My proposal was that the election to be held next year should be fair, free, transparent, legitimate and credible. For that to be possible, the old political prisoners must be released at the latest before the beginning of the election and Aung San Suu Kyi, in particular, should be allowed to engage in a political campaign for the election to make it a credible and legitimate one. I will monitor this process. I hope that the necessary elements will be in place for the election to be credible and legitimate to enable the democratisation process to move forward. I will devote much attention, as I am sure the international community will, to follow up on this matter.

The situation in Darfur is very troubling. The international community has been spending most of its time and energy on this situation. In terms of the deployment of peacekeepers, my target is the deployment of the mandated number of 26,000 soldiers there will be completed by the end of this year. This is by far the largest number of peacekeepers ever deployed by the United Nations. The trouble there stems from the continuing political instability and tensions between countries in the region. The tensions between Sudan and Chad continue to prevail. My special envoy, Mr. Basole, has been working tirelessly to meet the rebel groups and the key players and key stakeholders in the Government. The most recent meeting, which was held in Doha, Qatar, was suspended, but we will continue such contact. We will also continue to urge south and north Sudan to improve their relationship. An election will be held next year. The major benchmarks such as a census of population and a demarcation of the border are not yet resolved. We will continue to make progress on that.

The nuclear issues concerning Iran and North Korea are two very serious concerns. Recently the DPRK exploded a second nuclear test and following it the Security Council adopted a very strong resolution. It sent a strong and unified consensus message from the international community of the United Nations to the DPRK. It is absolutely necessary that the DPRK and the Iranian authorities fully comply with the relevant Security Council resolution. I have been deeply troubled by recent and defiant measures by the DPRK authorities in launching missiles. I again urge them to refrain from taking any further measures. The Security Council even yesterday again issued a strong message to them.

I will spare no effort in providing the necessary assistance to ensure the safe release of the aid workers of the Irish agency. The committee has my firm commitment to ensure the safety, well-being and security of the most vulnerable groups in the conflict zones, particularly women and children, and girls. I have appointed special envoys to end the sexual violence against women. I also recently appointed a special representative to look after the issues of children. I have given the highest priority to promoting the well-being of women and girls as well as ensuring their safety, protection and security. I launched an important campaign, UNite to End Violence against Women, last year, which has been widely supported by the international community. Security Council Resolution 1325 provides very important guidelines to which I am fully committed. I appreciate that the members of the committee are busy and I will conclude on that point.

Chairman

A vote has been called in the Dáil which is unfortunate but that is the nature of the work we do. That is the reason several members had to leave the meeting. I thank Mr. Ban for coming to meet us today. It has been a valuable exercise. Our members have continuously discussed the issues raised at this meeting during meetings of the committee. It would be helpful if Mr. Ban's officials could respond briefly in writing to the questions to which he might not have reached. I thank Mr. Ban, his officials, the ambassador, Mr. Paul Kavanagh, and the distinguished guests in the Gallery for coming here for this occasion.

The meeting adjourned at 5 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 July 2009.