Ireland's success in gaining a non-permanent two-year seat on the United Nations Security Council once again underlines the professionalism, commitment and efficiency with which the Department of Foreign Affairs goes about its business. An example of smooth and effective performance has been set which other Departments of Government would do well to emulate.
The achievement should be judged in the context of Ireland's meagre diplomatic resources. Of the European Union countries, only Luxembourg has a smaller representation abroad. Irish embassies, outside the major world capitals, usually operate on a shoestring when compared with those of countries of a similar size. On this occasion, they competed in many foreign capitals against the considerably larger resources of Norway and, more especially, Italy.
A team of diplomats under the department's assistant secretary, Ms Mary Whelan, was set up two years ago to run the campaign while the very experienced diplomat, Mr Richard Ryan, was appointed as Ireland's permanent representative to the United Nations General Assembly. All those involved are to be congratulated on the assiduous manner in which they carried out their task.
But, while the diplomats must take the major credit for this achievement, Ireland's international reputation in other spheres is likely to have helped. Although the voting was secret, it has been generally agreed that African nations contributed to the Irish success. The activities of non-governmental aid agencies and religious organisations had a part to play in this. The state's commitment to the United Nations and the participation over many decades by the army, and latterly by the Garda, in UN operations, also contributed.
Ireland will take up its Security Council seat on January 1st 2001 and most of today's controversial issues will still be in play at that time. The crisis in the Middle East may continue to rumble on. There will be decisions to be taken on sanctions against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, the peace between India and Pakistan, both of them now nuclear powers, will be as fragile as ever. An explosive situation remains in Indonesia and many African nations, which supported Ireland's bid, will face difficult political and social situations.
While the success has justifiably engendered excitement and satisfaction in Irish diplomatic circles, there will also be a realisation that our foreign policy will now be open to examination in the very public arena of the Security Council. Smaller countries have been able, through clarity and determination, to influence the Security Council's decisions. But greater diplomatic resources will have to be made available to augment the representation at the United Nations in order to achieve this influence. And on the political side, there will have to be a willingness to take difficult and, if necessary, unpopular foreign-policy decisions.