Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Ireland, no more than any other country, is not immune from the fallout from unrest in other parts of the world. This perhaps is one of the reasons we in this House have on a constant basis supported the Palestinian call for full nationhood, and also for it to be accepted by the international community. It is worth recording, therefore, that at the UNESCO General Conference, by 107 votes to 14, Palestine was granted full membership of UNESCO. Only 12 of the 194 members sided with the US and Israel in opposing that membership and I am glad to say that Ireland supported the application on the part of Palestine.

There is also a sad element to this, however. As a result of that vote, the United States has now withheld funding for UNESCO which amounts to almost 20% of the total funding. If that money is not restored within two years, and it is possible it will not be restored, this would mean the US losing voting rights in UNESCO and also losing its influence, which I do not believe is a good development.

I can only see Palestine coming into UNESCO as helping world peace. At the same time, it has failed to achieve membership of the UN. The only reason it failed was that the Security Council would not recommend it to the General Assembly. Palestine will now go a different route and will look for observer status, which will come down to a simple majority of the General Assembly.

I ask the Leader to convey to the Government the hope of this House that it would continue to support the Palestinian cause, as we have done in the past. I also hope, even though it will require a change in legislation in the United States, that the United States will reverse that decision and will restore funding to UNESCO. Let us get on with the real work of building peace in the world community. Ireland has always been an honest broker in this regard and I hope it will continue in that role in the future.