asked the Minister for External Affairs if the Government will support in the United Nations Organisation the Zambian resolution of condemnation of the British Government's proposal to consider supplying arms to South Africa.
13.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South Africa Arms Sales.
12.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he has received a letter from the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement seeking that the Government appeal publicly to the British Government not to sell arms to South Africa; if he will state the contents of his reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 12 and 13 together.
The Security Council of the United Nations in a resolution adopted on 23rd July, 1970, inter alia, called upon all States to observe strictly the arms embargo against South Africa and to strengthen that embargo by a number of specific measures. The Government fully support the terms of the Security Council resolution and the Anti-Apartheid Movement have been informed accordingly.
Am I to understand from the Minister that in due course Ireland will give its support to the Zambian resolution?
The Deputy may be under the impression that we have a voting position on this. This is the Security Council and we are not on the Security Council. Does the Deputy assume that we can do this by voting?
In the Assembly.
We have said that we fully support the terms of the Security Council resolution and expressed the hope that Member States of the United Nations will respond in a positive manner to it. We will, perhaps, get an opportunity, through communication with the Secretary General or at the General Assembly, to express our views in an informal way, but we are not a member of the Security Council and therefore would not have a voting position on this matter.
Will the Minister or the Government publicly support the appeal made by the Prime Minister of Canada to the British Government to reconsider this disastrous decision?
We support the Security Council resolution and I think that is sufficient.
The Prime Minister of Canada did not.