Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:39 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the contact he has had with other EU governments regarding UN reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13510/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 28 April 2005
Ceisteanna (62, 63, 64)
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:60 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the approach being taken by his Department regarding reform of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13509/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Liz McManus
Ceist:73 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals he favours with regard to expansion of the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13542/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 60 and 73 together.
Deputies will be aware that a central element of Ireland's foreign policy has been the promotion of an effective multilateral system and the strengthening of the rules based international order, with the United Nations at its centre.
The Government believes that it is essential that the members of the United Nations take action to enhance the effectiveness and the legitimacy of the United Nations, and to endow the UN with the means necessary to confront today's global threats and challenges. Promoting such reform was a priority of the European Union during Ireland's Presidency in the first half of 2004.
The House will also be aware that this is a crucial year for the United Nations as members prepare for the summit that will take place at the UN next September, at which heads of state and government will seek to restore momentum to the achievement of the millennium development goals, to agree on reforms that will strengthen the system of collective security, to enhance the human rights function of the United Nations and to reform its institutions and management structures. It is a central priority for the Government to do what it can to promote the success of the summit.
As a practical and substantial contribution to this process, I travelled to New York in February to assure the UN Secretary General of Ireland's readiness to do its utmost to support his reform agenda. Accordingly, I am honoured to have been appointed by him as one of five envoys to act on his behalf in encouraging governments to take the decisions necessary to ensure a satisfactory outcome at the September summit. The appointment is an indication of the esteem in which Ireland is held by the Secretary General and of its track record of commitment to the United Nations.
As envoy, my task is to make the case for the broad package of recommendations and reforms set out in the UN Secretary General's recent report, In Larger Freedom. In doing so, I will work with the Secretary General and with member states to overcome the obstacles and challenges that confront the reform agenda, which the Secretary General has described as "bold but achievable". I have been asked by the Secretary General to focus my efforts on Europe. However, none of the envoys is confined in their activities to any one geographic area.
While the reform agenda is many faceted, one very difficult but important element, and one that receives most public attention, is that of reform of the Security Council. There is general acceptance that the 60 year old structure of the council, which derives from the immediate post-war situation, is not in accord with today's realities. The high level panel that reported to the UN Secretary General in December 2004 on measures to enhance collective security put forward two models for reform: model A, which would extend the membership in both categories, permanent and non-permanent, and model B, which would retain the current permanent members and would, in addition, create a new category of member, elected for four year renewable terms.
The Secretary General has not recommended either of these models to the membership but has urged UN members to reach a decision this year on the expansion of the Security Council for the sake of its credibility and legitimacy.
The Government shares this view and would support an arrangement capable of securing the necessary support among the wider UN membership, as long as it preserved the possibility for smaller countries like Ireland, which make substantial contributions to the work of the United Nations, to serve on the Security Council at reasonable intervals.