Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nuclear Arms Industry.

Ivor Callely

Question:

25 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's position with our counterparts in the EC regarding the nuclear arms industry; the countries who support or reject the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The use of nuclear energy for weapons purposes does not come within the scope of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). The matter is thus outside the Community competence. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of which Ireland and its partners are members, has the twin purposes of promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and ensuring that nuclear activities are not used to further any military purpose.

Ireland has always been a strong advocate of nuclear non-proliferation. We were one of the original proponents of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the first to sign and ratify it in 1968. At present almost 160 states are parties to the Treaty but about 30 states have not yet acceded to it. Of the States Parties, over 90 have concluded safeguards agreements with the IAEA. The Twelve member states of the European Union are parties to the Treaty. All five acknowledged nuclear-weapon states are now parties to the Treaty, since France and China signed in 1992. In 1991 South Africa became the first state which has admitted developing a nuclear weapons programme to accede to the Treaty, as a non-nuclear weapon State. The most notable non-parties include Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, India, Israel and Pakistan. Of these, India has carried out a nuclear test, in 1974. Of the states of the former Soviet Union, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, which still retain nuclear weapons, have committed themselves to accession to the NPT as non-nuclear-weapon states as soon as possible.

During the last Irish Presidency of the EC, the European Council adopted a Declaration on Nuclear Non-Proliferation at its meeting in Dublin on 25-26 June 1990. This was the first common declaration on non-proliferation by the Twelve.

Ireland, together with its partners in the European Union, is also a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group which is designed to control exports of nuclear materials and technology, particularly to non-parties to the NPT. We are also members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, which controls exports relating to missile technology, which could be used in the delivery of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.