Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 6

Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.

Noel O'Flynn

Ceist:

83 Mr. O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if unpaid debts in respect of UN peacekeeping duties by the Defence Forces were discussed with the UN Secretary General on his recent visit to Ireland; and, if so, his response in this regard. [8823/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

During the course of my recent meeting with the UN Secretary General, I took the opportunity to raise Irelands concerns about arrears owing in respect of our participation in UN peacekeeping operations. The Secretary General indicated that he understood these concerns, and that he is working towards improving the arrears situation.

As of 26 March 1999, the amount owing to Ireland by the UN arising from our participation in peacekeeping operations was approximately IR£8.4 million, with the largest amount, IR£6.7 million, owing in respect of our participation in UNIFIL in Southern Lebanon, a peacekeeping operation to which Ireland provides some 620 personnel, our most significant contribution to UN peacekeeping.

Over the six months to 26 March 1999, the UN repaid arrears of IR£4.5 million, almost entirely in respect of UNIFIL.

Despite the significant repayments made by the UN in the last six months, the issue of arrears owed to Ireland remains of considerable concern. This matter is pursued on an ongoing basis by the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN in New York.

It is clear that the problem of arrears owing to Ireland and other troop-contributing countries is a result of the financial crisis which the UN has been experiencing for the last number of years, and is not due to any unwillingness on the part of the UN Secretariat to clear arrears. The financial crisis has been caused by the failure of many member states to pay their assessed contributions to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets in full and on time. We hope that efforts to resolve the UN financial crisis will lead to a reduction and eventual clearance of debts owing to Ireland and other troop-contributing countries.