Grace Boland
Ceist:54. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the UN80 reform process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37312/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 21 May 2026
Ceisteanna (54)
Freagraí scríofa
The UN80 reform initiative, which was launched by Secretary General Guterres in March 2025, is a system-wide process to reform each of the three pillars of the UN: Peace and Security, Sustainable Development, and Human Rights.
Ireland is strongly supportive of reform of the UN with a view to making the organisation more effective and efficiency in the delivery of its essential roles. A reinvigorated UN is needed to effectively address the grave challenges facing the world today including poverty, climate change, a growing disregard for international law and threats to democracy and human rights.
Ireland continues to stress that reform cannot, however, come at the cost of UN core values and that each of the three pillars of Peace and Security, Sustainable Development, and Human Rights should be protected.
Ireland believes that it is essential that the UN’s Members demonstrate the political will necessary to assist the UN Secretary General in the reform process, to enable the organisation to adapt and improve. With this objective, Ireland, through our Missions in New York, Geneva, and other UN centres, and also in cooperation with our partners in the EU, continues to actively engage with the reform process across all three work-streams of the UN80 initiative.
On work-stream one, identifying efficiencies and improvements in the way the UN works, a number of substantive administrative updates are underway or completed, including the centralisation of global payroll into three locations, the streamlining of 240 regional centres, and the creation of joint knowledge hubs to further reduce duplication and strengthen coherence.
In relation to work-stream two on mandate implementation, Ireland is actively involved in this process via the Working Group on Mandate Implementation Review. At present, action plans to enhance support for mandate creation, including improved capacity and information on budget implications, are being prepared by the UN Secretariat to a June deadline; and a public-facing platform to improve visibility across mandating organs is to be initiated by the end of May, with a deadline for full roll-out by September.
Under Workstream three, examining structural changes and programme realignments (including potential mergers), the UN Secretary-General is preparing a single consolidated report which will outline both the progress made to date and the decisions ahead; this report is expected in June.
At all times, Ireland has sought to play an engaged, supportive and cooperative role in the reform process and we will continue to do so.
Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 9.
Question No. 56 answered with Question No. 29.