The Government strongly supports reform of the United Nations, in line with the commitment to this end in An Action Programme for the Millennium. In the recent review of the action programme, the Government committed itself to support the strengthening of the capacity of the international community, in particular through the UN and the renewal process that will follow the Millennium Assembly, to make effective humanitarian interventions to halt conflict and suffering.
The reform issue has been pursued vigorously by the Government and was raised again in the address of the then Minister for Foreign Affairs to the UN General Assembly on 25 September 1999. While a number of important reforms have taken place, particularly in the re-organisation of the UN's role in the delivery of development and humanitarian assistance, the overall pace of reform has not, unfortunately, been as we would wish. We very much hope that the Millennium Summit and Assembly later this year will provide fresh impetus in the reform process. We look forward to an action-oriented outcome which will strengthen the organisation as it enters the new century.
In March 1997, the Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, presented a reform agenda for the United Nations to be implemented on the basis of a two-track process. The first track related to managerial initiatives and decisions falling within his authority. The second track involved a longer-term programme of reform to include fundamental proposals that could only be decided intergovernmentally, that is, by the representatives of the member states meeting in the General Assembly.
The track I proposals have been substantially agreed and are being implemented. They include the establishment and implementation of the UN development assistance framework under which UN agencies involved in development assistance will co-operate more closely at country level in an effort to avoid duplication. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs replaced the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. Ireland, with other donor countries, actively supported the setting up of this new UN office.
The track II reform proposals on which progress has been made include the establishment of a senior management group under the chairmanship of the Secretary General and the creation of a new post of Deputy Secretary General with important responsibilities in the development field. Ms Louise Frechette of Canada was appointed to this position in January 1998. A substantial number of reform proposals requiring General Assembly approval have not yet been endorsed. These include important proposals in the development area.