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Nuclear Proliferation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Questions (11, 21, 64)

Micheál Martin

Question:

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the EU is considering additional sanctions against Iran on the basis of its nuclear development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1582/13]

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Clare Daly

Question:

21. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will use his position in the EU to ensure that the US sponsored sanctions against Iran currently supported by the EU, and having an adverse impact on the Iranian economy and people, are lifted, rather than intensified. [1602/13]

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Clare Daly

Question:

64. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will withdraw diplomatic support for the US/EU sanctions against Iran. [1630/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 21 and 64 together.

Ireland fully supports the diplomatic efforts which are being made with Iran to address the serious international concerns arising from its nuclear programme. It also fully supports the sanctions imposed on Iran with a view to securing diplomatic engagement. Progressive sanctions have been reluctantly imposed by the EU, particularly in the last two years, after many years in which Iran simply refused to negotiate on this issue. During 2012, sanctions were extended to include oil and gas imports and increased restrictions on financial transactions and investment. We believe that these sanctions have been successful in bringing Iran to the negotiating table. However, the Iranians have as yet shown no evidence that they are ready to engage seriously with this process.

President Obama has recently signed into law a further tightening of US sanctions which was approved by Congress at the end of last year. This may lead to renewed pressure within the EU for a further tightening of bilateral EU sanctions against Iran. However, it will be difficult to go much further in this direction without reaching what amounts to a de facto trade embargo on Iran. Any further proposals for EU sanctions would have to be considered carefully by all member States, and in the context of Iran’s engagement with the ongoing negotiations.

It is important to recall that the sole purpose of the sanctions is to help bring about a peaceful diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue and so to avoid the resort to military force by any power. Our view is that military action, which would have a devastating impact on the Iranian people as well as on the wider region, should be avoided at all costs.

It is also important to note that, in order to minimise the impact of sanctions on civilians, no sanctions exist at present on food, medicine or most normal commercial goods. The recent economic turmoil in Iran, including severe depreciation of the Rial, has been generally linked to the effects of serious economic mismanagement over many years, including the diversion of massive resources to secret nuclear activities. Pressure from sanctions may have brought forward some of these reactions but cannot be said to have directly caused them.

Ireland will continue to work at EU level to prevent any move towards a general economic embargo of Iran. We will also lend full support to High Representative Ashton and the dual track approach which is being pursued by the E3 + 3 on the Iranian nuclear issue.

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