Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This year, we make the centenary of Ireland's accession to the League of Nations, which was the first step in Ireland truly taking its place among the nations of the world and clearly demonstrated our commitment to a rules-based international order. The challenges facing the United Nations today were clearly on display at the General Assembly last month. Four of the five leaders of the permanent members did not intend. Those were the leaders of France, the UK, China and, of course, Russia. The Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned that the world is becoming unhinged due to the geopolitical tensions and global challenges. He described how we are moving to a multipolar world with many power centres. The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said at a side event in New York that the UN Security Council was completely useless because it has not been able to agree on anything. President Higgins said at the time that the UN was losing credibility. Meanwhile the war in Ukraine rages on, horrific violence has flared up again in the Middle East and climate change represents an existential threat to us all. The global south is demanding increased influence. The implementation of the SDGs has stalled. New forums, including the alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS, are developing and expanding. Where stands Ireland with regard to reform of the United Nations? Clearly the Russian veto on the UN Security Council is a major issue.

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