asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether any protest has been made to the French Government regarding their decision to proceed with nuclear testing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nuclear Testing.
10.
The answer to the Deputy's question is in the negative.
Has the Minister anything to add as to why his answer is in the negative? Are we in favour of nuclear testing?
No. The Deputy asked if a protest had been made. Over a number of years we have campaigned actively in the United Nations for an end to all nuclear tests, and at the last session of the General Assembly we co-sponsored a resolution on the urgent need for the suspension of nuclear and thermo-nuclear tests. At the recent Stockholm Conference on Human Environment Ireland's delegation supported a resolution condemning all nuclear weapons tests, especially those carried out in the atmosphere. Therefore the position of Ireland in relation to nuclear testing is well known and is clearly known to the French Government, but I did not think it would serve any useful purpose to protest.
I was aware of our attitude at the Stockholm Conference and that the Minister's colleague attended that conference on pollution, but would our silence have anything to do with our EEC ambitions, France being one of the countries still involved in explosions? Has our policy on our accession to the EEC in any way contributed to our failure to protest at the French Government's continuation of nuclear explosions?
The Deputy would do well to weigh up what country he is hurting when he talks like that.
I am sure the French are worried.
I am trying to give the Deputy the message that it is his own country he is hurting by saying that. Having made clear our views direct and publicly, I think the weight would be in favour of not protesting unless there was good reason for doing it or some possible benefit to be gained. I saw no benefit in doing so and I did not protest.
I agree that our attitude on nuclear testing has been admirable in the past. I simply know that the continuation of nuclear testing hurts the world. In view of our past attitude, I am mystified that we should be silent on this occasion, and I simply ask if our silence is connected with our membership of the EEC.
We voted in Stockholm last month. The Minister for Local Government was there.
Deputy Dr. Hillery is Minister for Foreign Affairs.
He voted on behalf of the Irish Government. The French Government were clearly aware, and are aware up-to-date of our attitude and that our attitude has not changed, but the question the Deputy put down was whether we should protest, and I saw no benefit in protesting.
I do not think our EEC ambitions should interfere with his duty as a Minister.