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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1987

Vol. 374 No. 10

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Sanctions Against South Africa.

20.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will take the political and diplomatic steps necessary to initiate adoption by the UN Security Council of mandatory comprehensive sanctions against South Africa and Namibia, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter; if, pending this, the Government will introduce its own sanctions against South Africa and Namibia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

42.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement as to whether Ireland has reconsidered its position as to international mandatory sanctions against the South African Government.

I propose to take Question No. 20 and Priority Question No. 42 together.

Ireland has always supported the adoption by the UN of selective mandatory sanctions against South Africa. The Government considers that effective selective sanctions, carefully chosen, properly imposed by the UN Security Council and fully implemented are an effective means of putting pressure on the South African Government peacefully to abandon apartheid and to end its blocking of the plan for Namibian independence enshrined in Security Council Resolution 435. The Government will continue to work for the adoption of such sanctions by the UN.

To be effective, sanctions, whether selective or comprehensive, require wide international support. In our appreciation, this wide international support is at present not available for comprehensive sanctions. The Government, therefore, doubts the feasibility of comprehensive sanctions at present and have no plans to take steps to bring the matter before the UN Security Council, of which Ireland is not a member. Apart from our efforts at the UN, Ireland has already taken selective sanctions represented by our ban on fruit and vegetable imports from South Africa as well as by the actions taken together with our partners in the Twelve.

Has it not been brought to the Minister's attention by representatives of the front line states and also by representatives of those involved in the struggle against apartheid that international mandatory sanctions are the only prospect for a non-violent resolution of the current position in South Africa?

I am looking at other areas — I will not mention where — and I had a very constructive discussion with SWAPO, the Namibian Independence Movement, on Monday. The Deputy and the House can be assured that I am fully apprised of all avenues that can be examined. However, I wish to add the realistic rider that there is very little point in bringing in sanctions of this selective kind unless they will work.

I welcome the fact that the Minister is considering new initiatives. I should like to think that the rather limited form of sanction which Ireland has decided to take would be extended. Is it not far more unrealistic to expect countries that have no intention of implementing sanctions, such as Britain and others, to get into place first with their proposals, and for us then to follow? Has the advice offered to the Minister in his meetings with the different international agencies within and outside South Africa been unequivocally that the only strategy is that of international mandatory sanctions? Did they request that Ireland should take an initiative and give a moral lead in this regard?

I am sure the Deputy appreciates that hypocrisy is, unfortunately, an element in international relations. Some of the black African countries are not observing sanctions either by reason of their trade associations——

And because of their migrants——

It is very hard for a country located as we are to adopt sanctions which can be effective. We have taken certain steps in regard to fruit and vegetables and in the last Government Deputy Quinn was very influential in that regard. We are looking at other measures but they must be taken on a practical, selective basis. There is no point in adopting a grand principle of comprehensive sanctions if they cannot be enforced or will be flouted by business and/or national interests. These are the facts of life of which the Deputy should be aware.

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