Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 51: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the preparations that are underway for Ireland's chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2012. [6848/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland will assume the chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 2012 for one year. Comprising 56 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America, the OSCE is the world's largest intergovernmental regional security organisation, dealing with a range of issues in the areas of democratisation, human rights, arms control and economic and environmental security. This is the first time Ireland will chair the organisation. The chairmanship represents a useful opportunity for Ireland to assume a leadership role on the global stage. It is also consistent with the country's strong commitment to multilateralism and the promotion of human rights and democratic values. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I will be the Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) for the duration of our chairmanship and bear overall responsibility for the executive action of the organisation and the co-ordination of its activities.

This year, as part of the preparation for our chairmanship, Ireland is participating in the OSCE Troika with the current chair of the organisation, Lithuania, and previous chair, Kazakhstan. Weekly Troika meetings take place in Vienna, to discuss all aspects of Lithuania's chairmanship and current OSCE issues.Ireland is also chairing the Mediterranean Partners Contact Group this year, which brings together OSCE participating States and the Mediterranean Partner Countries to discuss issues of mutual interest and relevance to the work of the OSCE.

Policy priorities for Ireland's chairmanship year are currently being considered and will be further developed over the course of this year, in close consultation with other participating States. Within the area of the OSCE's Human Dimension, which relates to human rights and democratisation, it is likely Ireland will prioritise the issue of freedom of the media, especially internet-based media. Existing OSCE media freedom commitments need to be adapted in response to the advent of new media technology and this is an issue Ireland will seek to highlight.

Within the OSCE''s Economic and Environmental Dimension, Ireland is likely to make governance the central theme for its chairmanship. Several thematic areas could be considered in this regard, including combating corruption, improving the management of public resources, developing a business-friendly environment, promoting SMEs and improving the practice of corporate governance.

In terms of the politico-military dimension, Ireland will work to help facilitate progress in the resolution of the OSCE region's protracted conflicts, drawing on lessons learned from the Northern Ireland peace process. We will also work to see continued progress on updating the OSCE's arms control and confidence and security-building measures and on enhancing the conflict prevention capacity of the organisation.

My officials have been working on preparations for our chairmanship since last summer. A dedicated OSCE Task Force was established in my Department in October. This is likely to number up to 12 officials by mid-year, with a similar number working at Ireland's OSCE Mission in Vienna. I also plan to appoint a Special Representative on the protracted conflicts during our chairmanship.

The OSCE's activities cover a broad spectrum of activities and I want to ensure that all our government departments are in a position to contribute to and gain from our chairmanship. To this end, regular consultations have already begun with officials from other government Departments, who will be able to contribute relevant expertise over the course of Ireland's chairmanship.

On the budgetary side, estimates prepared under my predecessor indicate that the overall cost of our chairmanship to the Exchequer will be up to €10 million. Much of this spending will be on the OSCE Ministerial, which will take place in Dublin in December 2012. An annual event, held over two days in the capital of the chairing State, the Ministerial brings together Foreign Ministers and officials from the OSCE's 56 participating States and partner countries. At least 1000 people are likely to attend the Ministerial in Dublin in December 2012 and the event will require careful logistical planning.

For Ireland, the OSCE remains a cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Eurasian region and I greatly look forward to the challenge of chairing this organisation in 2012.