Extracts from a memorandum by Seán O'hÉideáin
'Ireland and the UN'

[matter omitted]

A cablegram addressed to the Minister was received, on the morning of the 15th December, from the Secretary-General of UN notifying us of our admission to membership, and stating that he would be glad to receive the credentials of our official representative. In a reply cabled on the same day, the Minister’s thanks for the telegram were conveyed and a further communication promised regarding our representative.

In the meantime, the new members, some of whom had permanent officers accredited to UN in the capacity of observers, were approached by the UN Secretariat with a view to taking their seats as soon as possible. In the case of Ireland, the approach was to the Consul-General in New York,¹ and he, with the authority of the Ambassador in Washington,² took Ireland’s seat on December 15th. On the following day, December 16th, the Consul General, instructed by the Department, participated in the Assembly vote on the filling of the last seat in the Security Council for 1957.

Repercussions at this side were not long in coming. On the 15th December – less than 24 hours after our admission – a Private Notice Question was tabled by Deputy E. de Valera asking the Taoiseach whether, in view of the period which had elapsed since Ireland applied for membership of UN, he would set forth the obligations which membership entailed and the commitments it involved, and if before membership was definitely accepted, the Dáil would be given an opportunity of discussing the Taoiseach’s statement and considering the obligations and commitments.³

In his reply the Taoiseach made it clear that application for membership was made with the approval of Dáil Éireann; that successive Governments allowed the application stand, and that, with the acceptance of the application, Ireland had become a member of UN consequently the question of definitely accepting membership did not arise. The Taoiseach went on to say that the obligations and commitments had been dealt with fully by Deputy de Valera, as Taoiseach, in 1946 when the Dáil approved of our application, the only difference being that experience since had shown that Article 43 of the Charter was not mandatory. In regard to ratification or legislation being required, he thought, speaking at the moment, that this would not be necessary. Undoubtedly, he continued, there would be financial obligations, and ‘when we have considered what financial obligations are imposed on us, and so on, we will then be in a position to discuss fully the entire matter, the financial commitments and any other obligations that may be imposed upon us as a nation because we have become a member of UNO’.

Action now required consequent on our membership of UN.

The first action necessary, in order to give Dáil Éireann an opportunity of debating our membership, would appear to be to determine our financial obligations. This, however, we cannot do with any accuracy, as we haven’t yet been informed of our liability for our 18 days of membership in 1955, nor has our percentage of the total UN Budget been fixed definitely. We can, of course, estimate, and the provisions to be inserted in Vote 59 for 1956/57 are estimates. If the Minister wished he might succeed in deferring the UN debate until our Estimates for 1956/57 come before the Dáil in July next, but this might lead to a series of questions and possibly a motion being tabled to bring the matter up earlier. Consequently, a Supplementary Estimate for a token amount might be introduced in the coming session, solely to enable the Dáil to debate our membership.

Next to affording the Dáil an opportunity of debating the matter, the most important step would appear to be the provision, in New York and at HQ, of staff to handle UN affairs. The sooner this staff is provided, the sooner will the Department succeed in overcoming the difficulties inherent in our exclusion from UN for nearly ten years, and obtain the necessary background to enable the Department to advise on policy and enable Ireland to play a full and fruitful part in the deliberations of the Organisation. The accredition of a Permanent Representative would involve Government approval and preparation of credentials, which can be signed by the Minister for External Affairs.

Other matters which may require attention are:

Instrument of Adherence to UN.

While a formal Instrument of Acceptance was formerly required of members admitted to UN, this is not now obligatory, and the declaration contained in the application for the admission suffices.

Ratification or other legislation necessary.

The Taoiseach stated in the Dáil on 15/12/55 that ‘So far as I know, speaking at the moment, ratification is not necessary nor is there any legislation required’. The Legal Advisor is examining this point and I understand that he has not yet satisfied himself that legislation of some kind will not be necessary.

Provisions inserted in 1956/57 Estimates for UN

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