Vol. 562 No. 5
151 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the clear view of the Government as to the legality or otherwise of the development of smaller modified nuclear weapons, in terms of international treaties, understandings, and the United Nations; the action Ireland has taken in response to these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6416/03]
Ireland considers the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime. Ireland would consider the development of new forms of nuclear weapon inconsistent with Article VI of the treaty which commits all states parties to pursue, inter alia, nuclear disarmament.
Ireland expects all states parties to the NPT to respect its terms and make every effort to achieve its full implementation. Ireland, as part of the New Agenda Coalition, has indicated that it would be deeply concerned about any future role for nuclear weapons as part of any new security strategy. We have further made it clear that a continual irreversible progress in nuclear arms reductions is a fundamental prerequisite for promoting nuclear non-proliferation.
In the year 2000, the review conference of the NPT agreed by consensus a Final Document which contained concrete steps toward the achievement of the elimination of nuclear weapons. In particular the final document includes an unequivocal undertaking by the Nuclear Weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in fulfilment of their commitment under Article VI of the Treaty. Ireland as a member of the New Agenda Coalition was to the forefront in the negotiations leading to this agreement and continues to press for its full implementation.
Another issue connected to any development of new forms of nuclear weapons is that of testing. One of the steps agreed in the 2000 final document is a commitment to the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. This treaty which contains an outright prohibition on nuclear tests will enter into force when 44 named states which are deemed to be nuclear capable, whether civilian or military, have signed and ratified. Thirteen of these forty-four have yet to ratify and Ireland and the New Agenda Coalition have regularly urged these countries to do so.
