Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

That is not what I am asking for. If I remember correctly, a good programme was put in place in this respect after the association held an AGM back when Muireann Ní Briain headed it. It was active. Had the Department's UN desk been unhappy with the association, it should have told the Minister that IUNA was not performing well and he could have addressed the matter through the Estimates. Let us remember the history of the situation. The amount of money involved was more than €60,000 at one stage. Making it €200,000 was considered, but the amount fell to €60,000, then to €10,000 and finally it was cut.

With the greatest respect, the IUNA, as part of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, WFUNA, and under the patronage of the President, is an important connection with schools. At the very least, the Minister should put a small sum of money in place to allow every Deputy to make suggestions on how the IUNA could become more active. I am not asking for much. With the greatest respect and while the Minister might restrain himself, I know more about foreign affairs and educating people on the subject than Colm McCarthy.

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