Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I am very disappointed with the Minister's reply. The Irish United Nations Association has as its patron the President of Ireland. It is also a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations. During its history, it ran into difficulties and was reformed, thus breathing new life into it. I raised this at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs because it was singular in that the line for the association was lost. If one wanted to implement the 2007-08 report, which has my support, provision should have been made for a small sum to allow for the consideration of a new structure for the organisation. I am not asking the Minister whether he agrees with my next comment, but this situation relates to the crudeness of the McCarthy suggestions, particularly those on foreign affairs. The Minister's predecessor was on the review group advising Kofi Annan on reform of the UN. A unique opportunity exists through the transition year classes that Oireachtas Members visit.

It would have been ideal had we at least left some seed money so that it could be reformed. On 1 January 2010, all funding ceased. A telephone call to the office when the telephone had been cut off and the website had been closed down to ask what the office's current activities are would not be helpful. Will the Minister consider setting aside a nominal sum while the review takes place so that we could all co-operate on setting up a mechanism? That the Irish United Nations Association, IUNA, under the patronage of the President, would be abolished from the Estimates in one stroke on foot of the McCarthy suggestion seems inconceivable.

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