asked the Minister for External Affairs if a recent application has been made on behalf of Ireland for membership of U.N.O.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if, having regard to the apparent futility of endeavouring to have this country accepted as a member of U.N.O., he will indicate whether the Government intend to persist in making application; and, if so, the reason.

asked the Minister for External Affairs whether the Government has considered the desirability of withdrawing this country's application for membership of U.N.O.

With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 70 and 71 together.

As I stated in reply to a parliamentary question last November there is no question of reapplying for membership of U.N.O. The application was made in 1946, with the unanimous approval of Dáil Éireann, and remains blocked by an objection in the Security Council.

It is natural that, in view of the delay which has occurred in accepting our application, the question of withdrawing the application should be raised. However, I do not for the present, at any rate, propose to interfere with the course of events.