Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which he foresees membership and formation of the UN Security Council developing in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18849/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his preferred options for the future development of the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18850/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his preferred options for the future formation and membership of the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18856/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 162 and 168 together.

It is generally agreed that the 60-year old structure of the United Nations Security Council, which derives from the immediate post-war situation, is not in accord with today's realities. There are, however, sharply divergent views on how the structure should be reformed.

The high level panel on threats, challenges and change that reported to the UN Secretary General in December 2004 on measures to enhance collective security was itself unable to agree on a recommendation for reform of the Security Council. Instead it put forward two models for reform: model A, which would extend the membership in both categories, permanent and non-permanent, and model B, which would retain the current permanent members and would, in addition, create a new category of member, elected for four-year renewable terms.

The Secretary General, in making his own recommendations for reform of the UN generally in his report, In larger Freedom, did not recommend either of these models to the membership, stating that reform of the Security Council was a matter for UN members themselves. However, he recorded his agreement with the factors which, according to the high level panel, UN members should take into consideration in deciding on a reform of the Security Council: states that contribute most to the United Nations financially, militarily and diplomatically should have an increased involvement; the council should be more representative of the broader membership, especially of the developing world; the effectiveness of the Security Council should not be impaired; and the democratic and accountable nature of the body should be enhanced.

The Secretary General asked members to reach a decision before next September's summit, preferably by consensus, but if necessary by a vote of the General Assembly. A change in the charter of the United Nations requires the assent of two-thirds of the members in the General Assembly, and takes effect when ratified by two-thirds of the members, including all the permanent members of the Security Council.

Four states with aspirations to permanent membership, Germany, Japan, India and Brazil, have recently circulated a draft resolution providing for an increase in the membership of the Security Council to 25, including six new permanent members. A group of states opposed to this approach, the Uniting for Consensus group, have put forward a counter proposal that would involve the creation of ten new elected members, distributed among the regions, who would serve for two or three years and could be re-elected with the approval of their regional groups. This arrangement would offer the possibility of extended or very frequent membership of the Council for certain states, with the agreement of their regional groups.

The Government, along with other governments, is currently the merits of the different proposals that have been put forward. It will wish to ensure, in so far as it can, that whatever new structures are adopted will be in the interest of the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. It will also wish to ensure such an agreement preserves the possibility for smaller countries such as Ireland, which make substantial contributions to the work of the UN to serve on the Security Council at reasonable intervals.