asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made any protest to the French Government regarding their testing of nuclear weapons in the South Pacific against the wishes of countries in that region; if he has raised with the French authorities the detention by French forces of four members of Greenpeace, including an Irish citizen, shortly before the test on 24 October; if he will urge the French Government to halt nuclear testing in the South Pacific; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Testing of Nuclear Weapons.
12.
Proinsias De Rossa
The Government's position on nuclear weapons in general and on nuclear weapons testing in particular is well known to the French Government, as indeed to the Governments of all the nuclear weapons States. It was most recently reiterated by me in the course of my address to the 40th session of the United Nations General Assembly. On that occasion I renewed my appeal to the nuclear weapon States to take the first step towards nuclear disarmament by working for the early conclusion of a comprehensive test ban treaty. I also urged them to undertake a commitment to halt testing at the soonest possible date.
As regards the specific incident of testing in the South Pacific raised by the Deputy, it is not our practice to convey our views to the Governments concerned regarding individual tests.
With reference to the detention of an Irish citizen involved in the Greenpeace protest against the French testing, the Irish Embassy, Paris, contacted the French authorities upon receiving news of her detention. The embassy was advised that she was being transported to Tahiti for deportation. The embassy maintained contact with the French authorities until deportation had been effected.