Vol. 432 No. 2
7 Mr. Cox asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of Ireland's diplomatic relations with Libya; and if he will make a statement about current sanctions against Libya in relation to the Lockerbie air bomb incident.
Ireland and Libya established non-residential diplomatic relations with each other in 1977. Our embassy in Rome is responsible for Ireland's relations with Libya. The Libyan People's Bureau in London was responsible for relations with Ireland but the bureau was closed by the British Government in 1984.
On 30 March 1992 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 748, imposing sanctions on Libya with effect from 15 April 1992. The sanctions were imposed because the Security Council considered that Libya had failed to respond fully to an earlier call on it by the Security Council to respond effectively to requests by the American, British and French Governments for co-operation in establishing responsibility for the bombing of PanAm flight 103 over Lockerbie and UTA flight 772 over Niger.
The sanctions imposed by the Security Council are: a ban on flights to and from Libya, the supply of aircraft or aircraft components and the servicing of Libyan aircraft; a ban on arms sales to Libya and a significant reduction in the number of level of staff in Libya diplomatic missions.
The sanctions, which are being implemented by the international community, including Ireland, are subject to review by the Security Council at least every 120 days. The most recent review was carried out on 8 April 1993 and the President of the Council concluded that there was no agreement that the conditions existed for modification of the sanctions.
Would the Minister agree that one of the apparent aims of some of the member states to which he referred was to oblige Libya to hand over suspected persons involved in the Lockerbie bombing for trial outside of Libya? Would he agree that this raises important questions of international law in that it suggests UN sanctions are being used as a form of compulsory extradition against the Libyan Government? Does Ireland support the use of sanctions in order to effectively force a form of extradition on the Libyan Government?
I think the Deputy and the House will agree that the Lockerbie and UTA bombings were appalling and that the perpetrators must be found and brought to trial. The Security Council has demanded Libya's full and effective co-operation in bringing these people to trial and it does not consider that Libya has so far provided that co-operation. It would be in everybody's interest, particularly the Libyan Government's interest, if they provide the co-operation required.
In view of the fact that Ireland still supports sanctions against Libya, will the Minister communicate with the Minister for Justice in looking favourably on the application by a young Libyan for political asylum in this country? The Minister will recall that this young man was jailed for one and a half years here.
Questions should be put to the Minister which are clearly his responsibility.
I can pursue the matter.
Can the Minister confirm that these sanctions do not in any way effect Ireland's trading relations with Libya and that we can continue our cattle trade with that country?
Ireland, like every other country, is obliged to observe the United Nations sanctions against Libya and we do so. I can confirm that these sanctions do not affect trade in other sectors; they do not affect beef and live cattle exports to Libya. I believe exporters are free to sell their products to Libya, and this is being done at present.
