andMr. M. O'Leary asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that Ireland supports the commercial embargo on South Africa recommended by the General Assembly of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on Ireland's attitude to the apartheid policies of the South African regime, which have been repeatedly condemned by the General Assembly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South African Apartheid.
4.
The Irish delegation has consistently voted for the condemnation of apartheid by the General Assembly of the United Nations. But as we have never believed that voluntary sanctions—the only type within the competence of the General Assembly— are likely to be obeyed or prove effective we did not speak or vote in favour of such sanctions. The General Assembly sanctions resolutions have indeed proved worse than useless, for no State with any substantial trade with South Africa has reduced it and indeed most, if not all, of them have increased it.
Is the Minister aware that the main Opposition Party to the apartheid policy of the South African Government has called for countries abroad to introduce policies of embargo? Presumably the people who are suffering under the regime are the best authorities on what will damage the regime, and would the Minister consider changing his attitude in this respect?
We have to approach these questions from the point of view of what we believe ourselves, not what somebody else believes about them. We do not belive that voluntary sanctions are going to be implemented and we believe they will do more harm than good. We do not intend simply to vote for something we do not believe in because it is going to please somebody, and in matters of this importance, I think we should stand for what we believe in and say what we believe in regard to them. If the Deputy examines the figures of the export and import trade of South Africa over the past nine or ten years, he will see that instead of going down, they are going up.
Because countries adopt our attitude towards the matter. The Minister will recall a time when we were very glad to ask for help from abroad. If other countries whose help we sought ignored the voice of the people who were looking for freedom in this country, we would possibly be worse off than we are at present.
It is not help we would be giving them; we would be deceiving them into believing we were going to help them.
That is a very convenient attitude.
It may be convenient for the Deputy, but I do not believe in that policy.
It is very convenient for the Minister, as one can see from his foreign policy.