The Security Council, the central organ of the United Nations, has primary responsibility under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security. Five of its fifteen members are permanent - the US, the UK, France, Russia and China; the other ten are elected to membership for terms of two years each. Ireland was a member in 1981 - 1982 The author offers a lively and entertaining description of some of the main personalities who sat on the Council in his time, and a full account of important debates on Namibia and on Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. The main part of the book is devoted to a lengthy and detailed account of the role of the UN in the Falklands War of 1982. His insider's account of the tensions with Mrs Thatcher's Government caused by the decision of the Irish Government at a crucial stage to seek further involvement by the UN - described here for the first time from an Irish viewpoint - will be of particular interest to readers in Ireland. At a wider level the book will also attract attention as an interesting and very readable description of the role a small State with a strong commitment to the United Nations can play on issues of international peace and security during a term as an elected member of the Security Council.