asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate to President Carter the widespread disquiet felt in Ireland because of recent nuclear alerts caused by computer malfunctions; and if he will seek an explanation of the matter and assurances in regard to the future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nuclear Alerts.
14.
I share the Deputy's concern on this matter. The attitude of the Government to nuclear weapons has been expressed on many occasions. We believe that nuclear and thermo-nuclear armaments pose a grave threat to the future of mankind and we consider that so long as the nuclear powers maintain these weapons armed and ready to launch at each other there is a serious danger that war may break out accidentally or through miscalculation.
The recent nuclear alerts referred to by the Deputy are an indication of how this could happen and they must obviously be a matter for grave concern. The US authorities point out that notwithstanding the computer malfunction which gave rise to these alerts other safeguard and checking systems operated effectively to halt the alert within minutes. I believe that the US authorities are nevertheless concerned about what has happened and that they are taking such steps as they can to safeguard against a recurrence. Accordingly I do not believe that I should seek an explanation or assurances as the Deputy has suggested.
In our view however the only real way of reducing or eliminating the danger which nuclear weapons pose is to press ahead to nuclear disarmament. The Government will continue to do everything open to it in this regard. In particular, we hope to play an active part in urging such measures at the forthcoming conference in Geneva to review the operation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
On the basis that we do not want to be blown to perdition by a malfunctioning machine, would the Minister accept that it is reasonable that we should contact the American authorities, seek a full explanation and obtain whatever assurances are possible in regard to the future?
Things are not done that way.
Unfortunately.
They are usually done by mirrors.
Deputy Quinn.
I am insisting on my second supplementary question in this case. I will not be put off.
The Chair will decide the number of supplementaries the Deputy may ask.
Most Deputies are allowed at least two supplementaries.
The fact that the Chair calls another Deputy does not mean he will not come back to you. The Deputy does not need to stand up and ask one question after another.
Would the Minister accept that there is very widespread disquiet in the country and that the Government are not doing anything to allay that disquiet——
There is disquiet in every country in the world.
I have been interrupted.
The Minister is answering before the Deputy finishes his question.
Would the Minister accept that the least this Government should do is to contact the American authorities in this regard?
The Deputy is not dealing with Cork County Council.
We might be a lot better off if we were.
Members are trying to turn Question Time into a county council meeting. I am calling Deputy Quinn.
Unfortunately the Minister in question would be more at home in Cork County Council than in his present position as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
How dare the Deputy insult Cork County Council?
Deputy Quinn without any help or interruptions.
In view of the fact that the United States Government were not shy about suggesting that we should not go to the Moscow Olympics, would the Minister return the same degree of intimacy and indicate to the American Ambassador the concern that has rightly been raised and given voice to by Deputy O'Keeffe? I know the Minister has a busy schedule but I am suggesting that he might indicate——
I discussed this and other matters with the American Ambassador some days ago, but formal representations were not made. Some Deputies do not understand how diplomacy works.
It is too slippery.
In view of the possibility of a nuclear war and the announcement of the siting of nuclear missile bases in England, would the Minister say what steps he has taken to have discussions with America, Russia and other nuclear powers to ensure that none of these nuclear missiles, whose destinations are predetermined, will hit Ireland?
Over the years, we have played a consistently constructive part in the United Nations and other international agencies in regard to nuclear disarmament. Mr. Frank Aiken was the leading figure in bringing in the test ban treaty, which he persistently pursued in the United Nations over a number of years. Successive Fianna Fáil Governments have a long and honourable record in this area. We behave as an internationally recognised country and not in a banana republic manner as has been suggested.
I wish the Minister would follow Mr. Aiken's example.