Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The fact that we are a small, neutral country with no vested interests means that we have no conflicts of interest. We are strategically represented in the EU and have a voice that has been heard over the years. One of my predecessors, Frank Aiken, was the first person to propose a treaty on nuclear non-proliferation, which was called the Irish resolution in the 1960s.

Elements of the media sneer at Kofi Annan telling me that the United Nations would be a great system if every country were like Ireland. He said that because in the quality, quantity and delivery of development aid over the years, we are second to none. It is untied to trade, unlike most other countries.

See this speech in context