Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - UN Security Council.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

96 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date of Ireland's campaign to seek election to the Security Council of the United Nations; and the number of states which have pledged support for Ireland's election. [17947/99]

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

113 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made on Ireland's campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council. [18176/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 113 together.

Ireland is seeking election to one of the two non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council which are designated for the "Western Europe and Others" Group of States for the two-year term 2001/2002. The election will take place in the 188-member UN General Assembly in October 2000. The election is being contested by three other candidates; Norway, Turkey and Italy. Successful candidates will require the support of two-thirds of those States present and voting. In effect, this means that the support of around 120 States will be needed to secure election. The election is by secret ballot.

I have sought support for Ireland's candidacy on all appropriate occasions, including on official visits abroad. Since September last, he has personally discussed Ireland's candidacy with the Foreign Ministers or Prime Ministers of approximately 100 member states of the United Nations.

In September last, before the campaign entered a more intense phase, we had around 30 commitments. This level of support has been built on and the Government is determined that by September-October 2000 when the election takes place we will have the necessary number of votes to secure election. As I have indicated previously, as this is a contested election, he is reluctant to indicate the exact level of support committed to Ireland at this stage. Let me say simply that the Government is very gratified by the broad support that Ireland's candidacy has attracted.