Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the United Nations refusal to allow the EU the right to speak at a meeting of the General Assembly and as a result of this the EU continues to only have observer status despite the fact that they now represent over 500 million people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36400/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Lisbon treaty has provided new structures for external representation of the EU, including the appointment of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton. The High Representative now carries out the foreign policy representation functions previously carried out by the rotating EU Presidency. The purpose of these changes is to allow the European Union to play a more effective role and have a stronger and more coherent voice in the international arena. Over the past year EU ambassadors in New York have been fully engaged in explaining the changes arising from the Lisbon treaty to non-EU member states and working to ensure that the new external representatives of the EU can fulfil their role adequately at the UN.

Following a lengthy process of consultation, EU member states tabled a draft resolution at the General Assembly last August to provide for a modestly enhanced status to the EU's existing rights as an observer, including allowing the EU High Representative and other EU representatives to speak in a timely manner in formal meetings of the UN General Assembly and Security Council as well as seeking the right of reply and to distribute official documents of the EU.

This request is fully compatible with the EU's status as an observer at the UN General Assembly, a status which is also held by a range of other international organisations. The request requires no change in either normal UN procedures or to the UN charter. The United Nations very much remains an organisation of states and, therefore, there is no question of the EU or any other international organisation having a status at the UN beyond that of an observer.

On 14 September, the General Assembly voted to defer consideration of the draft resolution on the issue of EU representation at the UN. This should be clearly understood as a procedural set back rather than a verdict per se on the substance of what the EU is seeking. While this was disappointing for EU member states, it was apparent that certain other UN members wished to have more time to consider the implications of the changes in EU representation. Concerns were also expressed by some UN members that the EU was seeking new prerogatives at the UN, which is not the case.

As I noted in my speech to the UN General Assembly on 27 September, the EU and its 27 member states are firmly committed to effective multilateralism with a strong UN at its core. We look forward to further consultations with UN member states on formalising the changes to the representation of the EU in the UN General Assembly. This is something to which Ireland and its EU partners attach the utmost importance because the proposed modest adjustments will help the EU to make a more effective contribution to the work of the General Assembly and the UN. It is also important the EU learns the appropriate lessons from its inability up to now to secure sufficient support from other UN members for the modest changes it is seeking. A process of internal review is now under way in both New York and Brussels to assess the potential implications of last month's vote for EU standing within the UN. The issue will also be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council later this month, at which time I and my EU counterparts will be able to benefit from the results of the internal analysis now under way.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In view of the fact that we are a small country with no axe to grind, can we not lead on this issue? Does the Minister agree that reform of the UN is required? Does he agree that the UN Security Council, with its five permanent members, is totally out of date in the current era? Does he accept that the 500 million people of the EU contribute more than anyone else to the running of the UN? Does he agree that the EU should have a different status to that of the Vatican, the Red Cross and the Arab League? It is time we as a country within the EU sought these changes and I ask him to set out the Government's position regarding reform of the Security Council and the general operation of the UN. Will he take a lead on this issue within the EU? He is smiling but, believe it or not, we could do a lot because we have nothing to lose.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy asked two separate sets of questions. The original question referred to the UN's refusal to allow the European Union the right to speak at a meeting of the General Assembly under new arrangements. On the wider issue of UN reform, Ireland has already taken a lead. My predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, was nominated by the Secretary General of the UN to lead reform by bringing proposals together.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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What has happened to that?

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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It is dead in the water.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I have heard nothing about it.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Allow the Minister to reply.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I hope the Deputies are not blaming Ireland for that. We believe in broadening representation on the Security Council.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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The permanent members will never allow it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It is a closed shop.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Please allow the Minister to reply. We are well over time on Priority Questions.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to current reforms to peacekeeping and peace building, our permanent representative to the UN, Anne Anderson, has been asked by the Secretary General to lead work in these areas. This reflects the high respect in which we are held by the United Nations. We take leadership positions on a number of issues, the most recent of which was our significant diplomatic achievement on the review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. One of our officials chaired the Middle East resolution at the conference on that treaty.

Most people would have said there was no chance of emerging from that process with a consensus leading to a conference in 2012. There is still a lot of work to be done. Ireland was asked to chair the process and it performed admirably in that regard.

The real issue, which we flagged within the European Union, is that the Union did not go about its business in the most optimal way. As the Finnish Foreign Minister says, the Union needs to be mindful of how it is perceived in other parts of the globe.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree that if there is no reform, there is always a danger that other arrangements will come into place, and that they will have an impact on the overall effectiveness of the United Nations? The United Nations is well worth maintaining provided it is updated and has modern practices. The real danger is that there would be more alignment between the European Union and NATO and such arrangements while ignoring the United Nations. Is the Government prepared to take the lead and renew the request made to the now Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to lead a reform programme? Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs return to us with an update on what exactly is happening in regard to the committee that the Minister-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is expanding the scope of the question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should probably do a bit of homework and acquaint himself with what has happened in the intervening in period and with the progress that has been made.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I do not need to. I am asking the Minister questions.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I mean that sincerely. Much work has been undertaken. We will continue with the leadership role we have adopted in regard to many of the aspects of the work of the United Nations. We will continue to push for reform where it is needed within the United Nations, as we do in respect of all the bilateral meetings we have held.