Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
155. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times and the occasions Ireland has chaired the Western European and Others Group at the UN in New York since it became a member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29894/14]
View answerThere are currently 5 regional groupings at the UN; namely the African Group, Asia-Pacific Group, Eastern European Group (EEG), Latin America and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) and the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG). This arrangement was initiated in 1961. The primary focus of the regional groups is to assist in allocating seats on UN bodies of limited membership. WEOG is composed of 29 member states. Chairmanship of WEOG works on a rotational basis amongst the members of the Group, in alphabetical order using the French language. Each state chairs the group for one month. Ireland last chaired WEOG in June 2013, and prior to that in February 2011, October 2008 and June 2006. Our next chairmanship of WEOG is expected to be in September 2015.
