asked the Minister for External Affairs if it is the intention of the Goverment to apply for membership for Ireland of U.N.E.S.C.O.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of U.N.E.S.C.O.
It is not the intention of the Government to apply for admission to U.N.E.S.C.O. So far, at any rate, it has been felt that the benefits to be derived from membership would not warrant the expenditure of a sum of the order of £20,000 likely to be involved.
The question of membership of this organisation is, however, being kept under review.
Our observers have already attended three sessions of U.N.E.S.C.O. Delegations have also been sent to a number of conferences dealing with specific matters held under the auspices of the organisation. The seventh session of the general conference of the organisation now in progress in Paris is being attended by an officer of my Department in the capacity of observer.
Apart from the benefits which we might derive from membership of U.N.E.S.C.O., has the Government considered the benefits that U.N.E.S.C.O. might derive from our being members of it?
In that case, they should pay for it.
Further, have the Government considered that this is a body through which views very often of a character inimical to many ideals for which we stand may be propagated through the world for the want of some voice at their meetings to suggest that such views might be further reviewed before being made the subject of official commendation by U.N.O.
The considerations to which the Deputy has alluded have been kept in mind and the fact is that our observers who have attended, as I pointed out, several of the sessions have the right to speak.
Have they?
They have the right to speak. Also, when there are particular matters arising at meetings of some of the sub-committees or special conferences, our team of representatives attends. When there was an international conference on adult education, we had a team there, and similarly with the conference on public education and another conference dealing with public copyright.
So that the distinction between an observer and a member is simply one relating to voting? Our observer can take part in the proceedings in every respect, except voting?
Yes.
That is quite an exceptional arrangement applicable to U.N.E.S.C.O. and no other body, is it not?
I could not say, but that is the situation with regard to U.N.E.S.C.O.