Vol. 307 No. 7
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will initiate the creation of a formal organisation to include all the eligible non-aligned undeveloped nations to increase the efficiency of collective action through its own deliberative, administrative and policy-making functions.
20.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present and past contribution of this country in moulding or helping to determine the developing attitudes of the non-aligned countries on their policies towards major power blocs.
21.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, taken by the Government to initiate and show accord with the decision of the non-aligned countries to press for the recent UN session of all eligible world nations on nuclear disarmament.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 18, 20 and 21 together.
The answer to the first question is in the negative. The non-aligned movement, ever since the first conference of non-aligned countries in Belgrade in 1961, have held many meetings at various levels and continue to play an active role in international affairs. Whether a more formal organisation than that which already exists is necessary is a matter for the non-aligned countries themselves.
Since Ireland is not a member of the non-aligned movement, we have naturally not been in a position to mould or help determine attitudes of the non-aligned countries from within that movement. At the same time, we have frequent contact with non-aligned countries, as with other countries, both bilaterally and in a multilateral forum, and our policies are well-known to them. On disarmament questions, for example, we have consulted with Yugoslavia a number of times during the past year in connection with the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Disarmament: Yugoslavia is a particularly influential member of the non-aligned movement.
When the Deputy refers to "the recent UN session of all eligible world nations on nuclear disarmament", I assume he means the Special Session I have just mentioned, which is meeting at present in New York and which, in fact, deals with conventional as well as nuclear disarmament. Ireland supported the convening of this Special Session when it was proposed in the General Assembly in 1976, and the Taoiseach addressed the session on 25 May 1978. The Irish Delegation at the Special Session continues to play an active role in its deliberations.
: Might I ask the Minister what he means by saying that we are not a member of the non-aligned movement? Why are we not a member of the non-aligned movement in so far as we are not a member of NATO?
: When I say that we are not a member of the non-aligned movement I state a fact; as a formal movement we are not a member of it. It numbers at present approximately 48 African states, 28 Asian states and 7 Latin American states. That is a fact. I have indicated to the Deputy that we have been in consultation from time to time with individual members of the non-aligned movement, as with other groups of countries, and that we work closely with them and other countries in the formulation of aims towards establishing world peace and order.
: That does not answer my question. It is generally accepted that there are three States in the world at present—the USSR, the United States and the NATO powers and then the non-aligned world. We profess not to be associated with NATO and to be non-aligned in the European sense. Why are we not a member of this other group of people? Do we not belong with them? We make a point of——
: That is a separate question.
: In the first instance the fact is we are not a member of NATO and the following questions turn on that. In the second instance, there are many countries within the non-aligned movement who perhaps are less non-aligned in the real sense of the word than we are, such as Cuba. Therefore membership or otherwise of this movement is not in any way a comment on the consistency of the foreign policy being pursued by the persons or countries who are either members or not members of that movement.
: Is the case not put forward the the reason we are not a member of NATO is not through any commitment to peace, non-aggression or anti the NATO objectives but simply because we happen to be a puppet of the United States and we are kept in reserve by them to do what they say when they please?
: We cannot get into argument, Deputy. Question No. 19.
: In these circumstances would the Minister not take this step to show the world that we are genuinely a non-aligned country by joining this group?
: Our foreign policy is not only well recognised but very much respected. For the Deputy to suggest that we are the puppet of anybody——
: So we are not aligned to the non-aligned.
: Apparently some Deputies opposite are not aware of what the position has been for a considerable time.
