Written answers

Wednesday, 21 March 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

Official Engagements

11:00 pm

Photo of Liam TwomeyLiam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of United Nations meetings that he will attend over the coming three month period; the issues he hopes to address at these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10413/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach had an excellent meeting with the recently appointed UN Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-moon in New York last week. This was a very useful discussion, which ranged over a number of issues. Secretary General Ban expressed his appreciation for Ireland's work at the United Nations, particularly our strong involvement in UN peacekeeping and our support for reform. The Secretary General was very appreciative of the advice and support the United Nations has received from Ireland in regard to its reform initiatives, including my own role as Envoy ahead of the World Summit in 2005.

In addition to the substantial increase in the level of Irish support for UN Funds and Programmes, a number of other issues were discussed during the meeting, including climate change, HIV/AIDS, Darfur, the Middle East and Northern Ireland.

It is customary for Ministers for Foreign Affairs to attend the opening plenary session of the UN General Assembly in September each year. I attended the General Assembly last year and, in addition to delivering the national statement on behalf of Ireland, met with the outgoing Secretary General and the new President of the Assembly. I also held a number of bilateral meetings with Ministerial counterparts. Apart from this, I have no immediate plans to attend UN meetings though officials, in particular at the Permanent Missions in New York and Geneva, will of course be actively representing Ireland at the range of on-going political, human rights, development and other meetings.

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