Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

139 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress being made with regard to the recovery of moneys owed to Ireland arising from Irish involvement in UN peacekeeping operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2253/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

As of 1 January 2001 Ireland was owed approximately £7.9 million for the cost of providing Irish personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions abroad. The missions for which Ireland is entitled to reimbursement of troop costs by the UN are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, and the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor, UNTAET. Continuous efforts are made by my Department to recover moneys owed from the United Nations. During 2000 Ireland received approximately £9.1 million in arrears.

The financial crisis which has hindered the UN from paying outstanding moneys is a direct result of past failures by many member states, in particular the US, to pay their assessed contributions to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets in full and on time. This situation has resulted in a serious day to day UN cash flow problem. Ireland and its EU partners have strenuously argued that all UN member states must honour their financial obligations.

The US has been the major debtor and I therefore welcome the agreement reached by the budgetary committee of the UN in December which significantly improves the arrears situation. Following the agreement, which,inter alia, reduces the US share of both the regular and peacekeeping budgets, the US Administration, with congressional approval, will now repay over $800 million of arrears to the organisation. It is hoped that this agreement will lead to a reduction and eventual clearance of debts owing to troop-con tributing countries, including Ireland. In the meantime, I assure the Deputy that Ireland's permanent mission to the UN in New York will continue to actively pursue the outstanding amounts of arrears.