Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Rule 92 makes it quite clear that all elections shall be held by secret ballot. I do not intend to depart from that unilaterally because UN engagement is a vital aspect of Irish foreign policy. Like all my predecessors, I do not propose to undermine Ireland's position at the United Nations, nor do I propose to undermine the functioning of the United Nations by departing from the practice of not publicly disclosing how we vote in secret ballot. It would be damaging to our ability to conduct international relations successfully. It would be damaging to our capacity to advance our values and concerns and the concerns of the Irish people if we were unilaterally to abandon a practice that has been in place for more than six decades and that flows directly from a rule of the United Nations.

If there are further issues, I will be happy to deal with them, but I will not undermine Ireland at the United Nations, nor will I undermine the United Nations.