Vol. 316 No. 13
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if in view of recent developments it is proposed to withdraw Irish diplomatic staff from Tehran, if he has satisfied himself with security arrangements for Irish people there and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens in Iran and the contingent arrangements made for their safety and security in the event of serious disturbances in that country.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
The representatives of the EEC member states in Tehran have met recently with the new Iranian Foreign Minister and have expressed to him their concern in relation to the safety of embassy personnel and security of embassy permises. They have been assured by the Iranian authorities that they will take all steps in their power to ensure the safety of embassy personnel and premises. It is not my intention to withdraw the Irish diplomatic staff from Iran but the situation in regard to our embassy personnel and citizens will be kept under continuing review.
There are at present 25 Irish citizens known to the embassy still living in Iran. The Irish Embassy maintains close contact with them and although they have been advised to leave there is no reason to believe that they are in any immediate danger at present.
What was the response to the Chargé d'Affaires' representations to the Iranian Embassy regarding the hostages at the American Embassy and regarding the safety of Irish and other EEC personnel?
Unfortunately the response in relation to the hostages has not been satisfactory. At the meeting of the nine Foreign Minister in Brussels yesterday we expressed our concern that the authorities had not fulfilled their obligations under international law. The Irish Presidency had already made its concern known many times through diplomatic channels to these authorities. We condemned any attempt to exert pressure on Governments by taking hostages, particularly in embassies. We considered that whatever the nature of the dispute between Iran and the US, the continued holding of the diplomatic personnel in the embassy is in breach of international law and as such must be rejected by the Governments of the Nine and by the international community. For the information of the House I propose to circulate my statement on this at a later stage. However, that is the position of the nine Foreign Ministers as a result of our discussions yesterday in Brussels. As far as the Irish contingent are concerned we have no reason to believe that they are under any threat.
In his capacity as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, is the Minister satisfied that the French and Germans are playing their part in putting pressure on the Iranians with regard to the embassy siege?
I do not know the basis for the Deputy's belief that they might not——
I will explain the basis of my question.
A brief question, please.
In the attempt to withdraw the moneys from the US, indications were given by the Iranians that the French and the Germans were a favoured people. That struck me as putting them in the situation where they could put more pressure on the Iranians in regard to the siege.
Both the French and the German Foreign Ministers played a very active and committed role in our discussions yesterday and they expressed real concern and determination to ensure that this breach of international law must not only be rejected but must be seen to be rejected. I have no doubt that the French and the German Governments are fully committed to the views I have expressed.
I am sorry, Deputy O'Keeffe, we must continue.
Is the Minister satisfied that the prospect of being recipients of the Iranian billions would not in any way reduce the pressure which they would apply to the Iranians?
I am satisfied, and I am further satisfied that all the member Governments with whom I have been in close contact have made every contact through all the channels available to them to bring pressure on the Iranians to desist from this totally unacceptable breach of international law.
Deputy Keating, and then a final supplementary from Deputy Mitchell.
The Minister's reply appears to pin his relative satisfaction with the possible fate of the Irish people in the area on guarantees which he got from the Iranian authorities. Is the Minister aware of similar-type guarantees given on at least three occasions to the Government of the United States? Is the Minister satisfied as to the basis of these guarantees and as to whether they are worth anything?
The best guarantee that any country can have for its embassy personnel is that the host country adheres to the accepted standards of international law and the decencies that apply to it.
They are not doing that.
Our best guarantee would be if the Iranian Government accepted that in respect of the US Embassy.
Deputy Mitchell is in possession.
The Minister referred several times to guarantees from the Iranian authorities. Since the fall of the Shah and since the fall of the Bazargan Government, who are the Iranian authorities? To whom is the Irish Chargé d'Affaires accredited? Who is the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and who appointed him?
We are getting away from the question.
I am allowing the Minister to answer the question but the question does not arise.
Who are the people giving the guarantees?
The guarantees are worthless.
There is some confusion as to who exerts authority throughout Iran. I understand that the Ayatollah Khomeini seems to have a degree of authority which he has not been able to discharge in every case for one reason or another, there is also the Revolutionary Council and in addition there are mobs of students in the streets. I am not quite sure where the real authority resides.
Deputy Griffin, please. We cannot debate this all evening.
The Minister said that he had been given assurances by the Iranian authorities as to the safety of the Irish personnel, and now he does not know who those authorities are.
Our representations were made to the Foreign Ministry and there is now a Foreign Minister. Those are normal channels through which representations are made. We made our representations through the authorities responsible for diplomatic contact. As to who has the authority throughout Iran, I referred to some of the problems that arose in that area.
Who has the authority to protect our personnel?
A final question from Deputy Griffin.
Will the Minister indicate the exigency plans he has for the protection of the 25 personnel?
No. Whatever exigency plans one would have in these cases would not be publicised.
