Martin Cullen
Ceist:37 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will next receive a seat on the United Nations Security Council. [4087/95]
Written Answers. - UN Security Council.
The Security Council consists of five permanent and ten non-permanent members, five of which are elected each year by the General Assembly for a term of two years. Of the ten non-permanent seats two are reserved for members of the Western European and Other Group (WEOG), the regional group of which Ireland is a member.
Ireland has served on the council on two occasions. In 1962 we served a split term and in 1981-82 we served a full two year term.
I believe that smaller democratic states, such as Ireland, can make a valuable contribution to international peace and security through membership of the Security Council. Accordingly, I hope that it will be possible to seek election to the council before the end of the decade.
The question of membership of the Security Council will be considered in the context of the White Paper on Foreign Policy which will be published later this year.