Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has consistently opposed all use of the veto at the UN Security Council. During Ireland's term as an elected member of the UNSC (2021-2022) we saw first-hand how the veto can be used to prevent the Council from fulfilling its mandate.

Ireland has consistently called for the power of the veto held by the Permanent Five (P5) members of the Security Council to be abolished. The veto is an anachronism and has no place in the 21st century. Permanent membership should be about timeframes, institutional knowledge, representation and effectiveness, not access to unilateral power.

Ireland has been actively engaged in the Intergovernmental Negotiation process to reform the Council, ongoing since 2009, making the case for abolition of the veto.

Ireland was a member from the outset of the core group of states, led by Liechtenstein, who proposed the resolution on veto use that was adopted by the General Assembly on 26 April 2022. This initiative does not prevent the use of the veto. However, it does mean that now, whenever a veto is used, the Permanent Member responsible must explain their decision to the General Assembly. It gives the wider UN membership, at the General Assembly, a voice, when the Security Council has been prevented from acting by the use of a veto.

Ireland has joined more than 100 other UN Member States in signing up to the France-Mexico initiative, which calls for the suspension of veto powers in the case of atrocity crimes.

In February this year, I addressed the Munich Security conference in a spotlight event on UN Security Council Reform, as part of a panel discussion alongside leaders from Slovenia, Peru, Kenya, and Germany, in which I highlighted these initiatives. I also highlighted support for the UN Secretary General’s reform efforts, and his vision on the future of global cooperation: ‘Our Common Agenda.’ This significant process is ongoing and will culminate in the Summit of the Future which the UN General Assembly agreed to be held on 22-23 September 2024.

In addition, Ireland is a strong supporter of the reforms to the UN Development System (UNDS), considering them as essential for our global capacity to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build back better after COVID-19. UN Development System reforms of recent years are having an impact with stronger, more independent Resident Coordinators leading UN Country Teams, supported by coordinated analysis and planning. Ireland is a longstanding committed donor to the UN Development System, prioritising core funding.