FOXFORD NATIVE, FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FORMER IRISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS NOEL DORR HAS PUBLISHED A NEW BOOK CALLED “A SMALL STATE AT THE TOP TABLE: MEMORIES OF IRELAND ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL 1981-82 “

BALLINA NATIVE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRELAND MARY ROBINSON LAUNCHED MR DORR’S PUBLICATION SAYING THAT THE UNITED NATIONS IS STILL SEEN AS A “VITAL FORCE”, PARTICULARLY FOR POORER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.THE RICH COUNTRIES MAY HAVE THEIR G8S AND G20S AND EU BUT, FOR MANY COUNTRIES IN AFRICA ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA, THE UN REMAINS THE SOLE WORLD FORUM WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A VOICE AND A VOTE, WHATEVER THEIR SIZE AND ECONOMIC STATUS.

AT THE LAUNCH,  NOEL DORR QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THE UN WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO RISING POWERS SUCH AS INDIA, BRAZIL AND CHINA.