Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 31 Jan 1995

Vol. 448 No. 3

Written Answers. - Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Seán Haughey

Question:

49 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position in relation to the negotiations on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by the United Nations; if the Government is refusing a commitment to disarmament or a ban on plutonium production; if the Government is backing the stance of nuclear States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1858/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The Government are committed to working to ensure that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty emerges from the forthcoming Review and Extension Conference further strengthened, with increased membership and support, so that its role in combating the threat of nuclear proliferation will be further enhanced. This objective reflects the keen interest of successive Governments, in the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation, since the original Irish initiative at the UN which led to the conclusion of the NPT.

To this end, Ireland has been working actively, together with EU partners and like-minded countries, in the preparatory meetings for the Review and Extension Conference which will take place in New York next April. I will be attending this conference.

A major issue under discussion has been that of the length of time for which the Treaty should be extended. We are opposed to a short extension because we believe that this would undermine the credibility of the Treaty, weaken its effectiveness and lead to a situation where a number of states would be tempted to pursue policies, in anticipation of the ending of the Treaty, that could lead to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

At the 1990 Review Conference, Ireland stated its belief that the Treaty should be extended indefinitely in 1995. The European Union, which did not have a common position at the 1990 conference because of France's non-adherence to the Treaty, subsequently adopted the same position. It was also adopted by all 52 member states of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe at the Budapest Summit last December. It is the position of many other non-nuclear weapon states.

We see the strengthening of the NPT as crucial for ongoing efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament. Under the provisions of Article VI of the Treaty, the nuclear weapon states commit themselves to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures to end the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament. Some progress is now being made in this direction. We would be extremely concerned if this were to be jeopardised as a result of a failure to reach agreement at the Review and Extension Conference. We also believe that it is not only entirely legitimate but also desirable that the non-nuclear weapon states should continue to press the nuclear weapon states, pursuant to Article VI, to offer adequate security assurances to non-nuclear weapon states in return for having foregone the nuclear weapons option, and to pursue negotiations on the reduction of nuclear weapons, with a view to their ultimate elimination.

Indefinite extension will also permit the continued implementation of the provision in Article VIII of the Treaty for the holding of review conferences at five-yearly intervals, with the object of reviewing the operation of the Treaty. This objective is in accordance with the Government's commitment, in the programme forA Government of Renewal, to seek such reviews.

Agreement on a comprehensive test ban Treaty is another step which would strengthen the non-proliferation regime. We continue to urge the conclusion of such a Treaty at the earliest possible date.

With regard to plutonium, the Government are concerned at the level of production of weapons-grade nuclear material, including plutonium. The abundance of nuclear material is another factor increasing nuclear proliferation risks. In line with their commitment in the Programme for a Government of Renewal, the Government strongly support the banning of the production of all fissile materials for nuclear weapons. We hope that negotiations for a "cut-off" agreement, which would lead to the ending of the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons, can commence in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva shortly. Such an agreement would represent a significant contribution to the future strengthening of the non-proliferation regime.