Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the recently revealed destruction of stocks of books held by UNESCO, of which Ireland is a member. [15735/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that UNESCO's external auditor has raised questions about the way in which the removal of the organisation's stock of publications was managed in the period from 2004 to 2005, which resulted in the destruction of many books. The Director-General of UNESCO has expressed very strong concern about this situation, and has condemned the destruction of the collections of books. I understand that the Director General has also launched an inquiry, which will seek to clarify the facts and identify the chain of responsibility. Arising from this inquiry, the UNESCO Directorate will be taking measures to ensure that such a situation never occurs again.