Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2017
347. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's engagement regarding the UN talks on nuclear proliferation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3089/17]
View answerA UN-mandated Diplomatic Conference to negotiate a treaty to prohibit Nuclear Weapons leading to their total elimination will begin in New York on 27 March. Ireland will pay an active role in these negotiations. It is our view that the negotiations will provide a solid basis for much needed progress on nuclear disarmament. The negotiations will be open to all States, to civil society partners and to international organisations to ensure the broadest possible level of agreement and Ireland is encouraging widespread participation.
The Conference has come about as a result of a UN Resolution brought forward by Ireland, together with our partners Austria, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa. This was adopted at the UN General Assembly in October with 123 states voting in its favour and will mark the first nuclear disarmament multilateral negotiations in over 20 years.
Nuclear disarmament is a long-standing priority for Irish foreign policy. We remain resolute in our commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the cornerstone of non-proliferation architecture. The Resolution makes clear that the planned negotiations will be a part of a process towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. It also underlines that any new legal instrument that comes about from the negotiations will reinforce the NPT, not weaken it. Ireland will continue to assert this in all future engagement and negotiations as we maintain our historic commitment to nuclear disarmament.
