asked the Minister for External Affairs whether in view of the recent disclosures by the Minister for Health that the incidence of lethal carcinogenic strontium 90 and caesium 137, so especially crippling in its effect on children, has increased in recent months throughout the State as a result of hydrogen bomb tests by the Great Powers, he will take all steps open to him to protest most vigorously, if possible in collaboration with other uncommitted small nations, on behalf of the Irish people against the continued testing of hydrogen bombs whose poisonous results, if testing continues, must continue to do increasing damage to children of this generation and the next.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hydrogen Bomb Tests.
19.
I share the Deputy's anxiety regarding the danger of a continuance of nuclear weapons tests.
We supported the resolution in the United Nations which expressed the hope that the Geneva Conference on the discontinuance of nuclear tests would reach early agreement on the suspension of tests under effective international control. Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, the Political Committee of the United Nations Assembly passed a clause in a resolution tabled by us recognising the danger of a wider dissemination of nuclear weapons. This clause was passed by thirty-seven votes to nil with forty-four abstentions.
We secured this result not only by approaching the "uncommitted small nations" to which the Deputy refers, but by frequent and prolonged discussions with delegates from every group represented in the United Nations.
The Deputy may rest assured that we will continue our efforts to promote agreement among the nations:
(a) for the effectively controlled abolition of all nuclear tests which add to radio activity dangerous to the health of the human race;
(b) for the non-dissemination of nuclear weapons by nuclear powers;
(c) for an agreement that the non-nuclear powers should not manufacture or possess nuclear weapons;
(d) for the cessation of the manufacture of nuclear material for weapons and for the ultimate disposal of the stocks of such material for peaceful purposes as part of a general agreement on balanced disarmament.