asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he proposes to take to make clear to the world Ireland's opposition to nuclear weapons and in particular to the spread of such weapons to countries outside the original "nuclear club".
Written Answers. - Nuclear Weapons.
35.
The Government have consistently voiced our concern about the threat imposed by the existence of nuclear weapons. In our advocacy of and support for arms control and disarmament measures we have paid particular attention to those in the nuclear field.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) lies at the heart of the Government's policy of disarmament. This Treaty remains one of the most important arms control agreements yet concluded. In addressing the Third NPT Review Conference in August 1985 I made the point that it brings together 129 states in a commitment that nuclear weapons shall not constitute a basis for security in the long term, that it contributes to stability now by preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons capability, and that it looks forward to the elimination of these weapons as instruments of force.
The Government have made considerable efforts in the recent past to see that the Treaty is effectively upheld. During the last review of the implementation of the NPT, Ireland actively contributed to bringing the various parties together in a common understanding of the responsibility which falls to each to implement its part of the Treaty: for the nuclear weapons states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals and for the non-nuclear weapons states to remain steadfast in their repudiation of nuclear weapons.
The Deputy has pointed to the danger of the acquisition of nuclear weapons capability by non-nuclear weapons states — what is known as horizontal proliferation. It is true to say that since the NPT came into force, nuclear weapons capability has been acquired by a number of states. Ireland and the other parties to the NPT have consistently implemented their commitments under the Treaty to prevent the wider dissemination of nuclear weapons to those few states which are not party to the Treaty and which seek to acquire nuclear weapons capability.
As a practical demonstration of our continuing efforts to prevent any access by such countries to the technologies and equipment used for nuclear explosive devices, the Government in 1984 adhered to the London Supplier Guidelines, designed to control the export of any material, equipment and technology transfer which could be used for nuclear explosive devices.
In addition during Ireland's Presidency of the European Community in 1984, a common Declaration of Common Policy on the Consequences of the Adoption of the London Guidelines was adopted by the Ten. Ireland also co-operates with other parties to the NPT in the Zangger Committee in implementing Nuclear Supplier controls designed to curb attempts by countries not parties to the Treaty to acquire nuclear weapons capability.