Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima

An Cathaoirleach

In accordance with the Order of the Seanad of 17 October, I remind Members that the proceedings are to conclude by 2 p.m. I welcome the mayor to the Chamber. Ar an gcéad dul síos, cuirim fíorfháilte roimh an Méara, an tUasal Kazumi Matsui, ó gach Comhalta de chuid Sheanad Éireann.

Mr. Matsui, good afternoon and welcome to this sitting of Seanad Éireann on the occasion of your visit. I thank our colleague, Senator Emer Currie, for proposing this address. I also welcome to the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery our friend and wonderful representative of the Japanese people, the ambassador, Mr. Norio Maruyama. You are very welcome. Thank you for being here and for your excellent work on behalf of the people of Japan. I also welcome other members of your delegation who are here.

You are here as the mayor of Hiroshima, but also as the president of the Mayors for Peace organisation. It is an honour for us to welcome you and for you to address Seanad Éireann, but also to be here in the Oireachtas, the seat of Irish democracy, in the city of Dublin, our capital. This is the first visit of a Mayor of Hiroshima to Dublin and Ireland. It marks the 67th year of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland.

Your visit represents a significant moment for us, as it symbolises the strong bonds of friendship and mutual respect between our two countries, bonds that continue to deepen. Despite the vast difference between our two countries, we are united by a shared dedication to peace, resilience, cultural exchange and reconciliation. Indeed, the political, economic and cultural ties that have been formed between our two countries are a testament to the endeavours of the Irish and Japanese people involved. The people of your great city have shown extraordinary strength, transforming your city from the ruins of destruction to one that symbolises hope and renewal and offers to all of us in the world that beacon of hope and reconciliation.

This journey serves as a profound inspiration to the people of Ireland and to all of us in this Chamber as we celebrate our peace process. It is one we do not take for granted and one we look to you and your people for continued hope and inspiration. It also highlights the strength of the human spirit and underscores the vital importance of, as we spoke about earlier, working together towards a world devoid of conflict with genuine international co-operation. Your visit is one that I hope people around the world will look to because, as you have said, quoting a young boy who was a survivor of the atrocity in your country city,

Now is the time to turn the tide of history, to get beyond the hatreds of the past, uniting beyond differences of race and nationality to turn distrust into trust, hatred into reconciliation, and conflict into harmony.

That was your speech last August, quoting a 14-year-old boy. Many of us across the world believe now is the time to end the conflict in Gaza and Ukraine. If we learn anything from the stories of your people, it is that war and conflict have no place in the world. The consequences for innocent civilians and human life are too profound. We must all work together towards a nuclear-weapons-free world.

I am confident that under your leadership, and as we celebrate your visit today, we can, as parliamentarians, politicians and leaders, reaffirm our commitment to the ideals you have worked so hard to achieve in your term as mayor. I ask all of us, including those in the public Gallery, to support one another and the people of Hiroshima in celebrating reconciliation and, more important, to share our experiences and the work we have all done on this island to bring peace, such that we can work together, irrespective of political differences or culture, to build a future for our peoples in which peace and prosperity are within reach of all.

You have been Mayor of Hiroshima since you were first elected, in 2011, the same day I was elected as a Member of the Lower House, Dáil Éireann. Before you became mayor, you held many important positions, including in the Ministry of Labour. You also served as First Secretary to the Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom. However, perhaps your most rewarding role has been that of president of Mayors for Peace, an organisation dedicated to promoting a world without nuclear weapons. Your dedication to this cause is demonstrated by the fact that you have been re-elected as president of the organisation on many occasions, including most recently in 2023. The Mayors for Peace project was first established in 1982 at the initiative of the then mayor, Mr. Araki, in response to the tragic loss of 120,000 lives in Hiroshima in 1945 and a further 70,000 in Nagasaki just three days later. The ongoing loss due to radiation sickness continued for many years to come.

With 79 years having elapsed since the bombings and with many survivors telling their stories of suffering the physical after-effects of radiation, we must listen and we must never forget the human story – the human story of the loss of life, pain and suffering. You have shown, through your leadership and Mayors for Peace, that we can grow an international organisation of cities of people dedicated to the promotion of peace.

I am immensely proud of what you have done. Many of us in my city, Cork, which has a long association with Hiroshima, show that we can work together to make our world free from the threat of nuclear weapons, which has been a long-standing priority for many in this Oireachtas. It is a privilege to have you here, in a world that needs leadership more than ever. It is more important for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to finding solutions to the challenge of nuclear disarmament, a path to which we in this country are fully committed with you. As we celebrate your address to Seanad Éireann, I ask you to continue, with all of us, with the work and the principles and values you uphold. We look forward to your address to us here in Seanad Éireann. We will continue to support each other. It is a question of our shared experience but also about creating a future in which peace and prosperity can be attained for everybody. It is my privilege to ask you to address Seanad Éireann.

Members applauded.

Mr. Kazumi Matsui

Members of Seanad Éireann, Dáil Éireann, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Dia dhaoibh a cháirde. It is a great honour to address the Oireachtas, which has more than 100 years of history since the establishment of the Free State of Ireland. I would like to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Cathaoirleach, Senator Jerry Buttimer, for giving me this opportunity to speak in the Chamber of Seanad Éireann and to the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl, for kindly supporting my visit and enhancing the ties between Ireland and Hiroshima since leading the Oireachtas delegation's visit to Hiroshima in February last year. I also thank the Members of both Houses for their great support and consideration.

I am delighted to be able to visit Ireland for the first time. It is a country of art and culture, rich in greenery and nature. It is also a great pleasure to visit Leinster House, which has witnessed Ireland’s history of hardship and success over many years. Having experienced hundreds of years of hardship, the people of Ireland can understand the pain of others and have a particularly strong desire for peace. It is well known that Ireland took the lead in promoting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons through its tremendous efforts on the drafting, adoption and ratification of that treaty, which entered into force in 2021. Ireland's commitment to humanitarian initiatives to protect innocent civilians resulted in the adoption, in Dublin in 2022, of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. It is also highly regarded internationally. These initiatives have been driven by the strong will and support of the people of Ireland.

The Nobel-prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, a poet respected in Japan as well as Ireland, expressed the people's rage and grief over violence and conflict and how important hope is in the face of adversity. His following words resonate with people around the world:

History says, Don’t hope

On this side of the grave…

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of justice can rise up,

And hope and history rhyme.

The atomic bombing in 1945 devastated Hiroshima city and claimed the lives of innocent children and civilians. This is not only the reality of history; it is also the reality of the present, as the hibakusha are still suffering the aftereffects of the bombing. We, the citizens of Hiroshima, have been striving for a world without nuclear weapons, with the condition of the conviction of the hibakusha that "no one else should suffer as we have". We never give up our hope and we uphold human life and the humanitarian initiative, together with people around the world.

Ms Teruko Yahata, who was exposed to the atomic bombing at the age of eight, began taking English lessons at the age of 83, determined to speak about the terrible reality and suffering in her own voice and words. Now she tells her story across the world:

If a nuclear bomb was used now, humankind would be wiped out. What I can do is to continue to communicate the reality of the atomic bombing, send out warning bells to the global community, and live in the present.

In recognition of such tireless work and action on the part of the hibakusha, it was recently announced that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the Nihon Hidankyo.

In 1982, Mr. Takeshi Araki, the then mayor of Hiroshima, called upon the United Nations for solidarity and for peace at citizen level around the world, which led to the creation of Mayors for Peace. It has grown into an unprecedented worldwide network with more than 8,400 member cities. From Ireland, Dublin and 12 other cities have joined this network.

Currently, the global security situation is deteriorating, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nuclear rhetoric, the worsening situation in the Middle East and increased tension between major powers. Although we have seen some progress such as the adoption of the TPNW, now the world could be heading back into a nuclear arms race. This must be the time to unite the voices of peace-loving people around the world and strengthen their solidarity for peace.

The vision of Mayors for Peace is to see the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realisation of sustainable and resilient cities for lasting world peace. To achieve these goals, we place the highest priority on promoting the culture of peace through engagement in music, arts and sports at citizen level in daily life. By conducting such culture exchanges across national borders, people can share the essential value of peace.

I believe that the people of Ireland, who are blessed with a rich culture, can lead the culture of peace in the world. I hope more Irish cities will join Mayors for Peace to work with us. I appreciate the Members of the Oireachtas for encouraging many cities to do so.

In September, the Summit of the Future was held at the United Nations in New York. It is vital to work for peace by involving young people - the leaders of tomorrow. I sincerely hope that the people of Ireland, especially its young people, will visit Hiroshima to understand the reality of the atomic bombing and engage in exchanges with the citizens of Hiroshima in cultural activities for peace. I hope the relationship between Ireland and Hiroshima will be developed still further.

Members applauded.

Senator Malcolm Byrne

I sincerely thank the mayor for his contribution and welcome him to Ireland. I also thank the embassy team, led by our good friend Ambassador Norio. The team has been doing extraordinary work building the strong friendship between Ireland and Japan. That can be measured in many ways. Japan is now Ireland’s fifth largest trading partner. We do €23 billion in trade every year. However, it is more than just about the money. It is about the personal friendships, the exchanges, the JET exchange programme and, as the mayor mentioned, the many young people who are inspired by aspects of Japanese culture.

My home town is Gorey. The mayor will be meeting with representatives from Gorey Community School later. It has the largest number of students studying Japanese of any school in Ireland, and a number of them will travel to Japan. It is critical, as the mayor said, that we involve young people in the quest for peace at all times.

We know that today Hiroshima is a vibrant city that is rich in culture. It celebrates the best of what is Japanese but also world culture. We cannot change our history, but we can learn from it. Hiroshima is a city that can inspire the world to do better.

The mayor is correct to state that we need to engage in further dialogue. We need to place our faith in multilateral institutions, such as Mayors for Peace, for us in the European Union and, in spite of all of its flaws, the United Nations. With regard to Ireland’s role and work in combating nuclear weapons, I think of the work of our late foreign affairs Minister, Frank Aiken, but also that of our peacekeeping troops. Ireland is rightly proud of being the only country that has taken part in every UN peacekeeping mission. Today, we think of Irish and other troops who are serving on the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.

The mayor is correct that we need to strive for a world free of nuclear weapons. It is dangerous that nuclear weapons are still in existence around the world. Such weapons pose even more of a threat in this era of artificial intelligence. It is critical democracies, but indeed all countries, co-operate and set out the ground rules by which new technologies can operate, ensuring they operate in the best interests of humanity.

The mayor is right that we live in a world of deep conflict. We have not learned from the past. We are now approaching 1,000 days of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the horrors that has resulted. There are several conflicts in the Middle East, most notably the horrors we are seeing now in Gaza and Lebanon. We see what is happening in Sudan and many parts of Africa. We see, as the mayor referred to, tensions in the Pacific. More than ever, it is critically important that all of us – politicians, the media, civic society, young people and everyone in society – plays our role in supporting those institutions in their quest for peace. I refer to this island’s own peace process. It is that - a process – as there is still much work to be done. If we learn anything from that, it is the importance of continually engaging in dialogue, being involved, listening to the other side, trying to understand other views, not always agreeing, but understanding and engaging.

We are very privileged that the mayor and the people of Hiroshima have been willing to share their stories with us and in the quest for peace. I wish the mayor and his party an enjoyable time in Ireland. I know this is his first visit here. In spreading his message, I hope it goes out loud and wide. I also hope he gets to enjoy Irish hospitality. We look forward to continuing to build those very important friendships between Ireland and Japan and working together toward world peace.

An Cathaoirleach

I should have said that Senator Byrne is a member of the Fianna Fáil Party, which is one of the Government parties. The next speaker is Senator Emer Currie, who issued the invitation to the mayor on behalf of the Seanad and was part of the parliamentary delegation, with the Ceann Comhairle and our colleague, Senator Paul Daly, that visited Japan in February of last year.

Senator Emer Currie

I warmly welcome the mayor, the ambassador and the delegation. I look forward to spending time with them this afternoon.

I wish them a very warm welcome as a member of the Japan-Irish friendship group, as a sister-in-law of a Japanese woman, Hiroko Kawachi Currie and an aunt of my niece and nephew Keiko Currie and Cillian Currie. It is a huge honour for me to have you in the Seanad today. Konnichiwa.

Today is a special day, mayor, as it was our collective hope 18 months ago as we stood on the top floor of one of Hiroshima’s skyscrapers, looking out over your vibrant city that now stands on the ashes of August 1945, that the Hiroshima-Ireland relationship would continue to grow and flourish through the Mayors for Peace initiative. Here we are. Arigato gozaimasu.

My visit to Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Museum left a profound mark on me and those of my colleagues who have visited, not only because of the sadness and shame of how humanity can hurt each other but because of the Mayors for Peace initiative; the need to act to protect, to end war and nuclear weapons. I rang the peace bell in Hiroshima that day in the hope that never again would any child or community suffer the same way. Today I hope the Members of this House and the mayors and councillors that we represent will join your movement and mission. Right now I feel the world really needs it. We have our own experience on this island of bombs and loss and of peace and reconciliation which can never be forgotten and which makes the Japanese Mayors for Peace conference in Ireland all the more powerful a reminder of the universal need for peace-building and the importance of truth and storytelling for generations to come. I know how important it is to the Hibakusha survivors to share their stories while they can so the voices of those who have died can be heard as a warning not just for the future but now; as I see tragic and terrific events unfolding in Ukraine and Palestine.

After visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, it is the stories I remember always, particularly from the hibakusha I was privileged to meet that day. There were stories of how thousands of children were caught unexpectedly in an atomic bomb at 8.15 in the morning on a hot, Japanese day. There was a flash, the ground lifted, everything turned black like night and a city was gone in seconds. I heard stories of how they tried to save their friends; how black, sticky rain like mud fell everywhere, which they later found out was radioactive. People were so thirsty from the radiation and lack of water they drank the rain. I heard about a mother who searched and searched for her daughter after the bomb but could only find her school lunch box, a tin box. When she opened it there was a lunch she had lovingly prepared, as all mammies do, untouched and unharmed, as she only wished her child could be. I heard stories of how life was never the same and how survivors had to live with the after-effects of radiotherapy, many shunned from society. I heard how one little girl who was seemingly unharmed by the bomb at the time later got sick. She found solace and hope in making thousands of paper cranes, a Japanese tradition of healing. She made them while in hospital and since she died, 8 months later, her paper cranes have become a symbol for peace all over the world, an act of solidarity that demonstrates innocence should survive no matter what. Later, members of the delegation will meet with students in my constituency of Dublin West, potential future leaders and peace builders on the other side of the world from them. Hopefully they too will be inspired by the exhibitions that are going to take place in Blanchardstown Library and first-hand accounts of the reality and futility of violence and war and the role of diplomacy and empathy in international relations.

Today, more than 2,800 cities are part of Mayors for Peace. We hope to grow that number during this visit across the island of Ireland, following on from Dublin City Council which first joined more than 30 years ago. I look forward to further collaboration with the mayor to grow this movement.

I will never forget the survivor we met in Hiroshima. For her and other survivors, for all victims of war and violence and future generations, we support you in your mission.

An Cathaoirleach

The next speaker is Senator Gerard Craughwell from the Independent group.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell

The mayor has travelled a long way to bring a message of peace and is very welcome. It was a pleasure to hear him address the Seanad today.

I too have links with Japan. My niece is married to a man called Taco Takizawa. I recall my mother meeting her grandchildren, turning to us and saying it was marvellous they had learned to speak Japanese so young.

It would be wrong of me today not to mention Nihon Hidankyo - I believe that is the correct pronunciation, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to ensure a world free of nuclear weapons. I am aware of the mayor’s efforts, as president of Mayors for Peace, in trust-building dialogue. Being the child of survivors of the Hiroshima bombing, you have not just a political but a personal connection to the disastrous effects of nuclear weapons. At the moment, the world is in a situation akin to 1914 with war in Ukraine and the prospect of a larger regional war in the Middle East. There is a powder keg atmosphere in which things could spin out of control very quickly, resulting in nuclear war. Indeed Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine has continued and earlier in that war there were threats of nuclear weapons being used. Those threats still exist today. At the moment North Korean troops are being deployed into the battlefield while Iran and Russia are in the middle of signing a new defence alliance. This is happening as Israel is about to retaliate against Iran's rockets fired on the Israeli people. While neither Ireland nor Japan are militarily powerful, as the United States or Russia, it is essential at this time that we use our positions in upholding peace. While our countries are no doubt very different, there are similarities in our histories. Japan has an admirable commitment to demilitarisation and advocating avoiding conflict since the end of the Second World War. I know you are aware of this but I am saying it for the benefit of most of the Members of this Chamber; Article 9 of the Japanese constitution forbids the use of war as a means to settle international disputes. This is highly admirable but in recent years, there have been attempts to reinterpret this.

Today Japan has demonstrated great ability to overcome traumatic periods in its history. After the Second World War the allied nations sought to ensure the Japanese economy could develop. That was before signing the Plaza agreement of 1985 that contributed to the lost decade. In some ways the economic boom and bust Japan experienced has parallels with the Celtic tiger in Ireland. While not perfect, the approach to international relations by Western countries through Japan has helped to make upholding article 9 of Japan’s constitution possible. Similarly, since the founding of the State Ireland has had a commitment to neutrality. Although in practice we have deviated from this, some politicians will unironically say we are neutral militarily, but not politically. Ireland is a post-colonial nation and has experienced imperialism. In this way, the intergenerational trauma we have experienced has translated into most of the Irish population wanting to uphold peace on the international stage and not engage in military adventurism. Many in this Chamber see me as one who supports Ireland joining NATO. This is of course completely misinterpreting my views of the world. My belief is that we should be a truly neutral country. Frequently, debates happen in both Houses in this building where people speak about Ireland's neutrality without clearly understanding what neutrality is. The Hague Convention of 1907 sets out clearly what neutrality is.

In many respects, Ireland is breaking the convention's definition of "neutrality". I asked the Tánaiste - the deputy prime minister - to give us a definition of "neutrality" and what I got was the Irish definition of "neutrality". There is only one definition and it is in the Hague Convention. By not holding to the Hague Convention definition of "neutrality", we compromise our neutrality. This undermines our credibility on the world stage.

An Cathaoirleach

I thank the Senator.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell

I apologise. Have I come to the end of my time?

Senator Gerry Horkan

It has well passed.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell

I tend to go over time.

Senator Paul Gavan

No.

Senator Gerry Horkan

Not this time.

An Cathaoirleach

Not usually, in fairness.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell

At the end of the day, we need people like Mr. Matsui speaking out for peace. We need to hear his voice loud. I thank him for being here.

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins

I am happy to join others in welcoming Mr. Matsui to the House and thank him for his work. One of my assistants who works with me in the Oireachtas had the opportunity to meet him previously when he engaged with Irish delegates at the second meeting of the state parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in New York. I am aware of the extraordinary leadership he has shown in the ever growing network of Mayors for Peace.

Senator Currie described very vividly some of the many testimonials and stories. It is an extraordinary act of generosity for someone who experiences something as awful as the impact of the nuclear bomb. Many of those hibakusha who have spoken have been generous in speaking and communicating about the unspeakable experience. It is an extraordinary act of generosity to humanity from those who experienced the worst of humanity and what humanity can do. Those testimonies have been spoken about so I will speak a little more about the context of peace, as I see it, coming after the horrors of the Second World War, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The UN Charter is striking and I go back often to the first line in the preamble about the duty we have to protect future generations from the "scourge of war" and - in language similar to the Japanese constitution - to work collectively, all of us, to promote the peaceful settlement of international disputes. That is not to say there will not be disputes. Ireland has also played a role in that. Frank Aiken was mentioned. He was one of the first signatories and one of the great advocates of the original nuclear non-proliferation treaty. It was notable at the time. Some of the discussions we hear now track back to the discussion at the time when there was an arms race that if one place was using it, everyone must use it and unless we are armed, we are not protected. It is the idea of mutual deterrents that creates a spiral of greater weapons sales and creates an industry that has an interest in promoting and expanding militarisation. It was Frank Aiken who said at the time, that although it may seem counterintuitive, to step further back is what gives us peace. It is not armament that gives us peace; disarmament is in fact what creates a culture and climate of peace.

Ireland is a neutral country. I am very clear when we talk about that. For me, neutrality is the idea that we only operate on principles and not on interests. We do not engage in military action for the pursuit of interests or on the basis of friends, foes or allies. We apply international law and are consistent in our application of it, including the call for the promotion of peace and disarmament. Ireland has engaged, as has the mayor personally and Japan, on the next waves of nuclear non-proliferation policy. Ireland also had a role, which is important, in the treaty to ban cluster munitions. This piece on disarmament is crucial now. We need to be clear that - Ireland's neutrality has allowed us to be advocates - to work for peace is work. It is extraordinary work. It is the most valuable work that can be done and it is not a simple matter. It is small countries such as Ireland, though Japan is perhaps not as small, that give the principle of the multilateral space that is not simply about power blocks and a return to the old politics of big powers and patronage, which forged so much of the sad military history we share, not just in the previous century, but over millennia.

As I come to the end, I want to highlight that work is needed now more than ever because we have a new escalation in arms funding. Even in Europe, we are seeing money rerouted from our EU budget into subsidies for the arms industry and ammunition manufacturers. There is a rise in autonomous weapons, which must be addressed. My crucial point is that it is also essential for the environment that we track emissions from military weapons because military emissions are still a blind spot within the Paris agreement.

An Cathaoirleach

Time is up.

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins

I laud Japan because its ministry of defence has a response to climate change and is one of the few militaries that properly tracks its emissions and includes them in national targets. That must be the future for all of us if we are to have a liveable planet in which we treat one another with decency.

An Cathaoirleach

I welcome to the Public Gallery Deputy Jim O'Callaghan and his son Luke. Céad míle fáilte. I neglected to mention earlier Deputy Grealish and his group from Oranmore who are here this afternoon.

Is é an chéad chainteoir eile ná an Seanadóir Gavan. Tá cúig nóiméad aige.

Senator Paul Gavan

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach.

I welcome Mayor Matsui. It is great to have him here. His presence is extremely timely, given the current chaos in the world. I also commend Senator Currie on taking this initiative.

Seventy-nine years ago, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at a huge cost to human life. The attack on Hiroshima, coupled with the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, left approximately 250,000 people dead, many from the blast itself and many more from the effects of burns, radiation sickness and cancers in the aftermath. A total of 80,000 people were killed instantly in the Hiroshima blast, 140,000 more died from their injuries and 75,000 were killed instantly in Nagasaki. These are shocking figures we should never forget.

Michiko Kodama, an 86-year old survivor, recounted her experience of being exposed to radiation in Hiroshima when she was seven years old. She said: "I was in a school building when the tremendous light and blast shattered the window glass." Reflecting on the loss of her parents, younger brother and daughter to cancer, believed to be linked to radiation, she said: "Do not ever create any more atomic bomb victims." That has to be a central message for all of us to take into account today.

As others have mentioned, Ireland played a leading role in the path towards the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1968. We also played a key role in bringing about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was approved by 122 states in 2017 and came into force in 2021. What we have yet to do, following the establishment of the treaty, is to trigger a societal and political debate about the role and future of nuclear weapons, especially in those countries that possess them. The work of the Mayors for Peace has been crucial in bringing cities and countries together to remember the horrific consequences of the atomic bomb as well as in campaigning tirelessly for the disarmament and abolition of nuclear weapons. The figures are impressive: 8,403 member cities in 166 countries. That is a huge achievement.

When nuclear states such as Russia and Israel engage in war, the risk of history repeating itself if ever more worrying. In May 2024, Russia carried out tactical nuclear weapons drills close to the Ukrainian border. Israel is causing massive devastation to human life with indiscriminate bombing of thousands of innocent people. A genocide is happening before our eyes, yet many world leaders remain silent. Israel is now threatening to bomb nuclear power stations in Iran, yet the US continues to arm the Israel Defense Forces, IDF.

One of the most frightening statistics in this ongoing genocide is that Gaza is 60% smaller than Hiroshima, but Israel has dropped six times more bombs on it compared with the atomic bomb dropped by the US in the Second World War. In other words, that is 14.4 tonnes of bombs per sq. km on Hiroshima versus 219 tonnes per sq. km in Gaza.

I must raise an issue with the mayor and I do so respectfully. At the 79th and most recent anniversary of this awful tragedy in August, I note that the Palestinian diplomats were not invited to that ceremony whereas the Israeli diplomats - the perpetrators of this genocide - were. I am genuinely puzzled by that, and that is why I raise it today.

I finish with two quotes. The first is from Dan Smith, the director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. He states:

We are now in one of the most dangerous periods in human history. There are numerous sources of instability - political rivalries, economic inequalities, ecological disruption, an accelerating arms race. The abyss is beckoning and it is time for the great powers to step back and reflect. Preferably together.

Again, I think those words need to be listened to. My second quote is from our former President, Mary Robinson. She was talking about both climate change and nuclear weapons. She stated:

The problems could be solved with political will. They are human problems. If we came together with understanding and collaboration based on reason, the long-view leadership that we’re advocating, we can solve all these problems.

I think we would all echo those sentiments. What is needed now, more than ever, is that we call out the wrongdoing in this world, particularly the horrendous genocide currently taking place in Gaza and now in Lebanon. No-one should ever have to suffer the devastating consequences of a nuclear bomb ever again. Diplomacy must work. Sanctions must be effective, and leaders must be brave.

Mr. Kazumi Matsui

I express my sincere gratitude once again to the honourable Members of Seanad Éireann for giving me this opportunity to speak today. I extend my best wishes for the success and happiness of all your endeavours and for the peace and prosperity of the great country of Ireland. I thank you very much indeed for your kind attention. Go raibh maith agaibh.

An Cathaoirleach

I thank the mayor. Before I call on the Leas-Chathaoirleach, I thank the ambassador for the first poster exhibition in St Angela's College, Cork, on 25 November on the devastating effects of the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I thank the ambassador for working with the former Minister, Deputy Coveney, for bringing that exhibition to St Angela's College, Cork. I now call the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Mark Daly.

Senator Mark Daly

I thank the Cathaoirleach, and the mayor is most welcome to celebrate the Nobel Prize being awarded to such a great organisation. We acknowledge his leadership in that and hope he will continue to be a voice for peace as next year we mark the 80th anniversary of the dropping of the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed more than 100,000 instantly and many more in the months and years that followed.

Anniversaries are an opportunity to reflect and remember, but also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the cause of peace. We celebrated that last year in Ireland with the marking of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. When that agreement was signed there were many conflicts around the world but today, there are three times as many conflicts as there were a quarter of a century ago. The mayor's work, the work of his organisation and the commitment to peace is something we want to support in any way we can.

On the day the bomb was dropped in Nagasaki there was a doctor there from County Cork who was a prisoner of war. He was digging his own grave along with the prisoners of war. The digging of the grave was what saved his life when the bomb was dropped. Despite the fact that he was about to be killed by his captors, upon the surrender of Japan he was given the sword of the commandant of the camp which was holding him and many others. In the months that followed he tended to the wounded of the devastation caused by the dropping of the nuclear bomb in Nagasaki, which shows humanity even against those who might oppress us. That example of Dr. Aidan MacCarthy from County Cork is an example to us all on how in those circumstances we should show humanity to everyone. Even though that happened 79 years ago it is an example that still resonates today. I thank the mayor for being here with us, and I congratulate him on the fantastic achievement of winning the Nobel Prize through his hard work and that of the people involved in the organisation.

An Cathaoirleach

I thank the mayor, Mr. Matsui, and all of his delegation for being here. I thank the Members of Seanad Éireann for their thoughtful contributions. I ask the mayor to communicate and tell the people of his great city that we are with them and will work together to bring peace and reconciliation on our island and on the world stage. We will work together to ensure the threat of nuclear weapons will be diminished for all time. I thank him again. I hope he enjoys the rest of his visit to Ireland, and we wish him every blessing, happiness and joy on his future work. As Senator Currie said, let us hope that many more cities join the initiative and that we all work together.

Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 1.57 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 2.15 p.m.

Sitting suspended at 1.57 p.m. and resumed at 2.15 p.m.

Seanad Éireann debate - Wednesday, 23 Oct 2024