Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I have respect for the Minister of State so he will excuse my stating that the reply conveys a disastrous failure with regard to United Nations reform. Drawing on his previous experience, he will recall no doubt that in 1981 the late and distinguished Erskine Childers and Brian Urquhart produced two excellent volumes on reform of the United Nations. It is interesting to note that those proposals 27 years ago were far more advanced than anything which came out of the consultation, with respect to the group of five and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Ahern.

Specific proposals were made for reform to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Where do they stand? Thinking about the rationalisation of the United Nations offices, it seems the net effect of this was to withdraw United Nations people from the field and have a greater ratio of people in headquarters. They were taken back from the point of contact.

See this speech in context