Dan Neville
Ceist:33 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the debts which are due by the UN to Ireland; the amount of such debts; and when these will be paid. [14616/97]
Other Questions. - UN Debt.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:47 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact, if any, he has had with the United Nations in relation to moneys owed to Ireland, particularly in light of the recent speech made by the Secretary General. [14745/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 47 together. As of 31 August 1997 the amount owing to Ireland by the UN arising from our participation in peacekeeping operations was £11.6 million. Most of these arrears are owed in respect of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, a peacekeeping operation to which we provide a troop battalion as our major commitment of personnel to the maintenance of international peace and security under the UN Charter. The total deficit is accounted for as follows: UN Interim Force in Lebanon — £9,364,000; UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus — £1,390,000; UN Operations in Somalia — £1,086,000; Miscellaneous/Transport Costs — £19,793. In the past six month period the UN repaid arrears totalling some £4.2 million. It is a matter of serious concern that these substantial arrears are still outstanding. In contacts with the United Nations, we have consistently reiterated our view that every effort should be made by the UN Secretariat to reduce the amount of arrears owing to troop-contributing countries such as Ireland, particularly with regard to outstanding claims for death and disability, contingent-owned equipment and letters of assist.
It is clear, however, that the problem of substantial arrears owing to Ireland and other troopcontributing countries is a direct result of the unprecedented financial crisis which the UN is currently experiencing and not due to any unwillingness on the part of the UN Secretariat to clear them. This crisis has been caused by the failure of many member states, and in particular the US, to pay their assessed contributions to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets in full and on time. This has led to a situation in which the Secretary General has been forced to delay normal reimbursements to troop contributors in order to deal with the serious cash flow situation facing the UN system. Ireland, along with our EU partners, is firm in the demand that all member states of the UN must honour promptly and in full their financial obligations to the organisation under the UN Charter.
While appreciating the difficulties caused by the financial crisis within the UN, Ireland and our EU partners are nevertheless resolved to maintain pressure on the UN to honour its obligation to make an early and full settlement of arrears owing. We will continue to do so at every opportunity. We hope that efforts to resolve the financial crisis will lead to a reduction and eventual clearance of debts owing to Ireland and other troop-contributing countries. While attending the United Nations General Assembly session last week I met the Secretary General and asked him to accord priority to the full reimbursement of the sums owed as soon as possible. I can assure the House that our permanent mission at New York will continue to make regular representations in this context.
I thank the Minister for a comprehensive reply. Since President Clinton is endeavouring to meet the USA's commitments and to assist in removing this financial crisis does the Minister know, following his recent visit to the UN, whether the £11.6 million due to us will be paid? Is it likely to be this year or early next year? Can the Minister confirm to the House that any contributions due from Ireland are paid on time? Will he also confirm that such money returned from the UN goes to the Exchequer as an extra Exchequer receipt? Will he consider raising with his colleague, the Minister for Defence, the possibility of earmarking that money for necessary capital expenditure and other facilities for the Defence Forces, rather than simply including it in the general Exchequer fund, which is already full with the contributions it has been receiving?
President Clinton has been helpful on this as on so many other issues and I thank him for his assistance on Northern Ireland. I had the opportunity to meet him when I was in the US and his detailed knowledge of how the negotiations in Northern Ireland are proceeding is quite exceptional for a man with so many commitments world wide. His commitment to and knowledge of Ireland are extraordinary and more than welcome. He has played a leading role in repaying the US debt to the UN and he must work with both the House of Representatives and the Senate in that regard.
The EU Foreign Ministers met the US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, last week and we discussed the debt issue. We were assured that a final decision will be reached before the end of the year. We hope that when the decisions are made the debt will be paid over a three year period and that we will then see the payments of the moneys we are due. I cannot tell the Deputy whether the money will be paid this year or next but it will be as soon as possible because we are pressing for it. The debt will not affect requests from the UN to participate in other peacekeeping operations or prevent us from taking positive decisions in relation to requests for assistance.
In 1997 we made a contribution of $2.236 million or approximately £1.542 million. This is equivalent to 0.21 per cent of the UN budget. Member state contributions to the UN budget are based on per capita GNP. The UN peacekeeping budget is separate from the regular budget to which we have also been contributing. The Deputy can be assured that we contribute on time. This has been a matter of honour for successive Governments.
I listened to what the Deputy said regarding money for the Department of Defence for particular capital projects and suggest he table a question to the Ministers for Finance and Defence.
Is the Minister saying there is no prospect of the outstanding debts owed to Ireland by the UN being paid until the United States and the Russian Federation pay the outstanding moneys due by them to the UN? Did the US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, indicate during discussions a greater likelihood of co-operation from Capitol Hill, which has been totally opposed for a number of years to paying further moneys to the UN?
I did not wish to give the impression that further progress on the matter was dependent on the US paying its debt. However, it is clear that we will not receive all outstanding moneys until the US clears its debt.
There is a new reality on Capitol Hill regarding the role of the UN and I welcome this. It is obvious from discussions between EU Foreign Ministers and Madeleine Albright that there is an expectation that this matter will be dealt with. President Clinton made it clear in his speech to the 52nd UN General Assembly last week that addressing the debt was important. The Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, has put forward a reform package and there is a warmth in the US Administration towards it. I believe this will result in an agreement between the President and Capitol Hill to pay the debts.
Earlier I asked the Minister whether he had any indication during his recent visit to the UN when the debt might be paid to Ireland. There appears to be some attempt under way to solve this problem.
I said I could not be sure whether the debt would be paid this year of next year. As soon as I know I will inform the Deputy.