Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports proposals which have been made for a universal TV, media, education network aimed at explaining and encouraging interest in the work of the UN. [43152/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The UN Secretariat's Department of Public Information has responsibility within the UN system for promoting global awareness and greater understanding of the work of the United Nations. The DPI works across all communications media, and the United Nations website and the UN News Service (including UN Radio) run by the DPI serve as key sources in providing information and news on the UN. The DPI also oversees a network of sixty three regional and national UN Information Centres which serve as direct points of access and information about the United Nations and which forge local partnerships with public authorities, media, educational institutions, and civil society to carry out communications campaigns to promote the work of the UN.

Through the website of the UN News Service, the DPI offers timely broadcast-quality video covering all areas of the work of the United Nations, for use by global news providers. I also understand that the DPI is continuing its efforts to broaden its range of digital products and activities to inform and increase public awareness of the UN, including through use of new media platforms such as Twitter.

The public information work undertaken by the DPI and its network of UN Information Centres is an important element in strengthening the role of the United Nations and public support for its work. I might add that promoting public understanding and knowledge of the United Nations is something which the Government, through our long-standing commitment to the United Nations, also actively supports on an ongoing basis.