Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact he has had with other EU Governments regarding UN reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18703/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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A key objective of our foreign policy in the years ahead is to enhance Ireland's role as a model UN partner. That reflects the value we place on the UN as the primary multilateral framework through which we give expression to the values and principles that underlie our foreign policy. The value we accord the United Nations is also reflected in our strong support for the UN reform agenda. We believe that the UN must reform to ensure that it reflects in its structure and operations the wishes and interests of its member states and that it carries out the vital mandates of peace and development as effectively and efficiently as possible.

As the Deputy will be aware, the UN World Summit, held in 2005, agreed a balanced and extensive package of UN reforms. I contributed to the preparation of the Summit in my role as one of the Envoys appointed by Secretary-General Annan to support his recommendations for change, with a particular focus on EU and other European states. Since then I have continued to support the agenda for change. There has been progress in some areas, notably including the establishment of the Peace Building Commission, review of management and mandates and progress towards System Wide Coherence in the development area. Progress has been less satisfactory in other areas, notably Security Council reform and revitalisation of the General Assembly, though I am pleased that work continues on finding avenues for progress on these issues.

Ireland continues to work with its EU partners and other member States on implementation of the Outcome Document of the UN World Summit which, in the context of a series of reports by the Secretary General, forms the reform agenda. The issue of UN reform is regularly discussed within the EU. At the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council last December I discussed this issue with my colleagues and we agreed that the EU would continue to engage actively in constructive dialogue to advance all the reforms agreed at the UN World Summit.

Ireland will continue to press for further progress, while acknowledging that such progress ultimately depends on the political will of the membership as a whole.