Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

96 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the status of the nuclear test ban treaty following its rejection by the US Senate. [20971/99]

Michael Bell

Question:

101 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the decision of the United States Senate to reject ratification of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20858/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 101 together.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is one of the cornerstones in the nuclear disarma ment process. Together with a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty it lays a necessary foundation for all further steps in nuclear disarmament. In the absence of a test ban the prospects for early progress on nuclear disarmament are considerably reduced.
The purpose of the Treaty is to prevent any further testing by the nuclear weapon states, and thereby to contribute to halting the further development of nuclear weapons. It stands at the beginning of the process leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons.
The CTBT is thus a fundamental building block in the step-by-step approach to nuclear
disarmament, that I have proposed with my colleagues from Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden in the New Agenda initiative.
The rejection of this Treaty by the legislature in one of the five nuclear weapon states is a cause for grave concern. Ireland and its EU partners have expressed, most recently at the meeting of the European Council in Tampere, our deep regret at the failure of the US Senate to ratify the Treaty. The Treaty cannot enter into force without the ratification of the US. It would in fact be an empty treaty without American adherence.
This action gives a wrong signal in the wake of nuclear testing by India and Pakistan, two non-signatories of the Treaty. Furthermore, the argumentation used to reject the Treaty casts doubts on the prospects for the eventual ratification of other disarmament measures, such as the Protocol to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention, which is currently in the course of negotiation in Geneva. It also augurs poorly for the Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty, negotiations on which will take place at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
I welcome President Clinton's re-statement of the US government's commitment to ratify the Treaty as well as his announcement that the United States will abide by the moratorium on nuclear testing in place since 1992.
Top
Share