Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 5

Written Answers - United States Missile Defence Programme.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

52 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will be supporting, within the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy, the Bush administration's missile defence programme; and if he will make a statement on the United States' missile defence programme. [13052/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Government is studying the proposals put forward by President Bush last week for a missile defence programme. These proposals are of a general nature, and the US administration has yet not made clear its thinking on a number of specific aspects.

I agree with others that the declared intention of the US administration to reduce further its stockpile of nuclear war-heads is, in itself, positive. The previous administration accepted last year, at the United Nations General Assembly, the objective put forward by Ireland, together with its partners in the New Agenda Coalition of the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Any genuine progress in this direction would of course be a constructive step.

However, the Government is very concerned at some of the implications of the latest US proposals, notably for the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, concluded in 1972. This treaty, signed by the United States and the Soviet Union, has served the world well as a cornerstone of nuclear arms reductions and as a central element in diminishing the risk of the outbreak of nuclear war. In this regard, it can be seen as a vital framework until such time as nuclear weapons have been eliminated.

President Bush has now made it clear that his administration does not regard the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty as relevant to what he describes as ‘the new strategic environment' and he has also made it clear that the United States sees a need ‘to move beyond the constraints' of the ABM treaty. I would be extremely concerned if this could lead to the ending of the ABM treaty and the consequential destabilisation of the present nuclear balance. This could result in a renewed nuclear weapons arms race and the further proliferation of nuclear weapons. It is for this reason that Ireland has supported resolutions at the two most recent sessions of the UN general assembly on the need to uphold the existing framework of the ABM treaty and in the context of plans leading to the elimination of the nuclear arsenals.

I recall that, at the fifth review conference of the states parties to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty last year, the 187 states parties, including the five nuclear weapons states, agreed 'that the ABM treaty be strengthened as a cornerstone of strategic stability and as a basis for further reductions of strategic offensive weapons.' It is our hope therefore that the Bush Administration will have regard to the commitment which was undertaken by the United States at the non-proliferation treaty review conference.

I understand that the Bush Administration intends to consult its allies on the steps that it is proposing to take. As the Swedish presidency of the EU has already made clear, such consultations are a matter for NATO.

The EU does not have an agreed position on missile defence. The Union does have, however, a strong position on the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the Union is also committed to the objective of the elimination of nuclear weapons.

The Government will continue to work in all appropriate fora to achieve the objectives of its disarmament policy in relation to weapons of mass destruction.