Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach. There is no doubt the UN is in a weakened position and the UN Security Council is paralysed. For those of us who want to see the UN restrengthened, commit to it and value Ireland's history and tradition with the United Nations, I will posit a theory. I will direct the question to Mr. Murphy first. Setting aside operational practicalities, at least in theory, if UNIFIL in Lebanon is not renewed at the Security Council but each contributing country wants to continue a mission there, could a motion be brought to the UN General Assembly to be agreed by a majority? It would not have a legal basis as a UN mission but it could give assent to a country like Ireland and appease the triple lock provision in our foreign policy. If we are to make proposals to the Minister that could keep the triple lock or some kind of guardrail on our deployment, is it a potential option that a UN General Assembly resolution could at least give an assent to some composition of a peacekeeping mission?