Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2006
75 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the manner in which positions within the United Nations and its agencies are advertised to the Irish public; his views on whether more can be done to ensure the widest possible recruitment to such positions; and if he will make a statement on such reforms as he favours on the matter. [6974/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecruitment to the United Nations and its agencies is a matter for the UN and the agencies concerned. They conduct recruitment competitions centrally, advertising a range of positions as they arise, both via the Internet and in the international print media.
The UN Charter at Article 101.1 provides that staff shall be appointed by the Secretary General under regulations established by the General Assembly. Article 101.3 provides that the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff and in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. It also provides that due regard shall be had to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
I am satisfied that Irish applicants enjoy equal status with citizens of other member states when seeking positions with the UN. I am also satisfied that Irish nationals are fairly represented among the personnel employed by the UN Secretariat, including at senior level. Indeed under the UN system for measuring geographic distribution, the number of Irish nationals employed is currently at the maximum point within its range.
I would like to mention one particular UN programme, the junior professional officer programme, JPO, which is managed by the development co-operation division, DCD, of my Department. This programme is designed to provide individuals with experience of multilateral development co-operation undertaken within the UN system. In 2004, DCD ran a recruitment competition in cooperation with the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners, and in consultation with the relevant UN agencies which were represented on the interview board. The six successful candidates took up their positions in 2005 and it is expected that they will complete their assignments in early 2007. A new JPO competition will take place in the last quarter of 2006. Advertisements will be placed in the national newspapers and on www.publicjobs.ie. DCD maintains a database of individuals who express an interest in the JPO programme and e-mail notification will be sent to everyone on this database in advance of the next competition.
In addition, UN development specialist volunteer positions funded by Development Co-operation Ireland are advertised throughout the non-governmental organisations development network, using where possible the websites of Dóchas and Comhlámh. Last year, Development Co-operation Ireland initiated a new United Nations volunteer internship programme on a pilot basis. Following advertisements in all the national newspapers, ten positions were filled. All positions with the UN volunteer programme were advertised in prominent positions on the Development Co-operation Ireland website www.dci.gov.ie as well as on the Comhlámh website www.comhlamh.org. A link to the webpage was also sent out to subscribers to the Development Co-operation Ireland electronic newsletter.
The outcome document agreed by last September's UN world summit called on the Secretary General to develop proposals to ensure that the existing budgetary, financial and human resources policies, regulations and rules are aligned with the current and future needs of the organisation with a view to enabling him to carry out his managerial responsibilities more effectively. The Secretary General is expected to submit a set of concrete proposals to the General Assembly in the coming weeks. Ireland and its partners in the EU will look constructively at proposals to reform human resources management with a view to ensuring that the UN is equipped with the skilled and versatile workforce it needs in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century.
