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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1990

Vol. 402 No. 3

Written Answers. - Policy on Visits of Naval Vessels.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

49 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report, produced by Green-peace, which shows that nearly half of the US navy warships that visited Irish ports during the 1980s had been officially inspected and cleared to carry nuclear weapons before leaving the US and that nearly all visits were conducted by warships participating in major naval exercises in the North Atlantic; if, in view of this information and repeated assurances from successive Governments that Irish policy prohibits foreign naval vessels visiting Irish ports carrying nuclear weapons or forming part of naval exercises, he intends to introduce any new procedures to ensure that foreign naval ships comply with Irish policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I understand that the Green-peace report to which the Deputy refers is entitled "US Navy Warships in Irish Ports 1980-1990: their nuclear weapons and naval operations". My attention has been drawn to this report which was published last week, and I intend studying the information contained in it very carefully.

Our policy with regard to the visits of naval vessels is clear: permission to enter Irish territory and ports will not be granted to any vessel with nuclear weapons on board.

In addition, it is our policy to issue permission for a vessel to visit provided that such a visit does not form part of a naval exercise. This has been the policy of successive Governments and I believe that existing procedures are adequate to ensure that the conditions laid down in this regard are upheld. These procedures are based on the clear unequivocal statement of policy by the Government and the recognition and respect of that policy by other, friendly governments.

As I have already indicated, I shall be studying the report in detail. However, at first reading it would appear that the evidence which it cites is almost entirely of a circumstantial nature, and that no proof has been provided that any of the US ships which visited Irish ports did in fact carry nuclear weapons.

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