Conor Lenihan
Ceist:81 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the effort, if any, he will make in his bid to secure a place for Ireland on the UN Security Council. [14234/99]
Written Answers. - UN Security Council.
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:82 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his campaigning issues in relation to Ireland's efforts to secure a place on the UN Security Council for the period 2001 to 2002. [14235/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together.
Ireland is a candidate for election to non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the two-year term 2001-2002 in elections which will take place at the 55th Session of the UN General Assembly in the latter part of 2000. As a member of the Western European and Other Group of States (WEOG), Ireland is seeking election to one of the two seats on the Council which are designated for that group. Ireland declared its candidacy in April 1996. To date, three other WEOG states have declared their candidacy for the same election: Norway, Turkey and Italy.
Ireland's candidacy is based on this country's longstanding commitment to the work of the United Nations in all fields, including peacekeeping where Ireland currently ranks sixth among the states which provide personnel to UN peacekeeping operations), disarmament, where Ireland continues to play a prominent role at the UN, four decades after this country was the first to propose a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, development, where, in contrast to a disturbing international trend, our development co-operation expenditure continues to be one of the fastest growing in the world and human rights, where this country currently holds the chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Ireland's candidacy also draws support from the principle that small and medium sized mem ber states of the United Nations should have the opportunity, at reasonable intervals, to serve as members of the security council. This underlines the right and responsibility of member states, small as well as large, to contribute to the work of the organisation and the realisation of its purposes. It also highlights the global character of the United Nations and the need for the security council to be representative in its composition of the views and concerns of the wider membership.
If given the privilege to do so, Ireland would bring to membership of the security council the perspective of a small country with a national historical experience that we share to a significant extent with small and medium sized states in all regions of the world. We would bring our experience of peace-building on our own island, our track record of commitment to the work of the United Nations and a deeply held conviction that there can be no real security without economic and social development. Above all, we would bring our promise to work tirelessly to ensure that the security council remains the ultimate embodiment of international co-operation in the cause of peace and advancing the rights and dignity of all peoples.
As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have sought support for Ireland's candidacy on all appropriate occasions. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and other members of the Government have also promoted the candidacy in their contacts with other administrations, where this has been appropriate. These efforts will continue apace.
Successful candidates will need to receive the support of two-thirds of the votes cast. The election will be by secret ballot. Since elections to membership of the security council are highly competitive in their nature, I am reluctant to enter into the details of Irelands efforts to lobby other member states. However, I can tell the House that the candidacy is being well received among the broad membership of the United Nations.
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:83 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the UN Security Council to act at a global level in response to breaches of the its own declarations and resolutions. [14236/99]
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:84 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific measures, if any, the Government envisages for reform of the UN Security Council. [14237/99]
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:85 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the reform of the UN Security Council in view of the Government's efforts to secure one of the rotating places on the council. [14238/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84 and 85 together.
The charter of the United Nations provides, in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the organisation, that its member states confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf.
The Security Council's effectiveness must be judged against the background of the political and global realities in which it operates. Although the Security Council acts on behalf of the entire membership, it is regrettable that certain member states have failed over the years to abide by its binding resolutions. However, in many conflicts since 1945, the efforts of the council have played an important role in restoring and maintaining the peace. Having said this, I am strongly of the view that changes are required to the composition and functioning of the council to enable it to discharge its charter responsibilities more effectively.
Following the end of the Cold War, the early 1990s saw the council asserting its charter role in a newly vigorous manner and the international community commenced consideration of how to make the council more representative of changed global realities and more transparent in its work. In 1993, the General Assembly decided to establish a working group open to all UN member states to consider all aspects of the question of an increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the council. The issues involved are enlargement of Security Council membership, the council's working methods and its decision-making procedures including, crucially, the use of the veto. The Government believes that a Security Council of 15 members for a United Nations of 185 member states does not reflect the institutional balance which the council must have if it is to carry out its charter duties effectively. Indeed most member states are agreed that the council should be enlarged to make it more representative of the wider membership. However, there is disagreement on how this should be achieved. Some favour a limited expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership, while others are opposed to new permanent members of the council. The Government supports a small regionally balanced increase in both permanent and non-permanent seats to create an enlarged council of between 20 and 25 members. The Government strongly believes that any agreement on enlargement should not diminish the possibility for smaller UN member states to serve on the council as non-permanent members. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is a candidate for membership of the council for 2001-2.
On Security Council working methods, there appears to be fairly wide consensus that these should be more formalised and transparent, involving greater consultation by the council with other UN organs, including the General Assembly and Secretary-General, and, in peace keeping matters, with troop contributing countries.
However, progress on the foregoing is linked to the vexed question of the decision-making procedures of the council, specifically the veto power of permanent members. Some member states wish to see it abolished or not extended to any new permanent members; others wish to see its use greatly restricted; while the five permanent members have been opposed to any change in their veto prerogatives. Ireland would like to see the veto eliminated altogether but, recognising the strong opposition of the permanent five, has proposed that they be invited to accept a limitation of the veto, and to exercise it only when they consider the question of vital national importance, taking into account the interests of the United Nations as a whole. At the same time any new permanent members of the council would declare that they would never exercise the veto.
I regret that the working group has not yet been able to report any consensual progress to the General Assembly. Hopes for progress on the 50th anniversary of the organisation in 1995 were disappointed. There must be a renewed effort, as we approach the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations next year, to mobilise the political will to achieve meaningful reform. A revitalised Security Council is essential to confront the challenges, including those of the ethnic conflicts which have blighted the last decade of the twentieth century.
I assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to play an active role in the negotiations to strengthen the council's capacity to fulfil its charter responsibilities. A larger and more transparent council, less wedded to the negative use of the veto, could contribute more effectively to international peace and security.