Apologies have been received from Senators Norris and Bradford.
Business of Joint Committee.
What progress has been made as regards our having a full discussion on the situation in Iran and, as agreed, on arrangements for members of the joint committee to visit that country later this year?
A delegation is coming from Iraq but that is a separate issue. Nothing further has been arranged. We have asked the Department to obtain information and we will check the position. Wherever we go, we will travel in the latter part of the year after the summer break.
I met the chargé d'affaires and I note that there is a letter on the file from Deputy Gormley who also met him. We must increase the level of contact and begin to make proper arrangements for this visit. There is no point in starting to organise it in August or September. We should start now by either inviting a delegation from Iran to travel here or by sending a delegation there. There should be solid progress on this issue before the next meeting.
Is it in order to raise the situation of people of the Baha'i faith in Iran and invite representatives thereof to come before us? Perhaps that issue could also be progressed ahead of our visit.
I support Deputy Mulcahy. We need a briefing for the meeting. We also need to be briefed in respect of what is evolving under the non-proliferation treaty, NPT. As I understand it, there is a specific point in regard to the Indian agreement, namely, that Ireland is a member of the London club which is involved with the supply of materials. Irish assent will, therefore, be required to implement the Indian agreement with the United States. It is an agreement with a country that is outside the NPT. That is a crucial colouration of the position we are adopting in respect of Iran. In the specific context of Iran, there is a certain amount of confusion as to the level of authority delegated by the European Union to the negotiating countries and the results achieved. I mention these matters as items on which the briefing should touch.
We will try to progress the issue.
It has been mentioned on a number of occasions.
We have been fairly busy. Our work programme, even if everyone was not able to participate in its completion, has been heavy.
I appreciate that.
We will follow up on the matter to which the Deputy refers immediately.
Would it be possible to list Iran as a specific item for discussion on the next agenda?
Yes, or we can discuss the progress made in respect of the matter raised.
I thank the Chairman.
Senator Kitt
Our sub-committee on the welfare of missionaries has met once. Is it proposed to hold another meeting or will we have an opportunity to discuss the response of the Department of Social and Family Affairs to our pleadings?
We were in contact with the sub-committee more than a week ago and again today because we want to bring the matter to a head. The other aspect is that we want to achieve a reasonably satisfactory conclusion.
The minutes of the meeting of 11 April have been circulated. Are there any matters arising?
I thought I had submitted an apology.
We will include it.