MEMBERS of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee have criticised the United States for not paying its UN peace keeping contributions.
The committee was told by Mr Richard Townsend, political director of the UN desk at the Department of Foreign Affairs, yesterday that 52.2 billion was owed by member states for peacekeeping operations.
Of this $1.7 billion was due from the US. The UN was discussing reform of its operations against the backdrop of a serious financial crisis, largely brought about by the failure to pay for peace keeping, he said.
Senator Michael Lanigan (FF) said it was deplorable that the US should be "the biggest defaulter". It should be asked to pay up or withdraw. They seemed to be saying "if they get their way in regard to who will be secretary general they might pay; otherwise they may not". That was not good enough.
Mr David Norris (Ind) said that despite being owed money by the UN, Ireland should continue its peace keeping work but the failure of the US to pay up was appalling.
Mr Paschal Mooney (FF) asked that Ireland should propose a resolution condemning the "slave trade" in girls highlighted by the recent Stockholm conference on children sponsored by the UN. Many member states would be prepared to support the resolution.
Mr Townsend undertook to bring the committee's concerns to the attention of the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, who will be addressing the General Assembly in New York next week.