Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

The Minister's response has illustrated the point that when developing this concept, Kofi Annan developed a parallel notion of devolving certain functions of the Security Council to regional bodies, including the African Union. The Minister's reply has revealed that the idea of a movement from an absolutist version of sovereignty has not been accepted fully either by the African Union or in the region. Therefore, the flaws in respect of that practice flow back and raise a fundamental question as to whether anything was achieved regarding this fundamental concept in human rights or United Nations reform.

Regarding the International Criminal Court, there is a grave danger it is seen as an institutional spin-off that has no connection with the realpolitik of the security council.

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