asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the Government's efforts to date to assist in bringing about nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nuclear Disarmament.
6.
Successive Irish Governments have voiced their concern at the dangers inherent in the continued growth of armaments, both nuclear and conventional. The Government see reliance on nuclear weapons as a poor foundation for maintaining international peace and security.
The Government are committed to working, through practical steps, towards the goal of general and complete disarmament which the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 1961 as a desirable one. They consider that it is in the interest of the international community to do everything possible to move towards this goal.
Ireland, like those other countries in Europe which are outside military alliances, is neither directly nor indirectly involved in the negotiations between the Soviet Union and the US, suspended at the end of last year, on intermediate-range and strategic nuclear forces. Nonetheless, this country has an evident interest in seeing negotiations on these weapons resumed and brought to a successful conclusion. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, therefore, I have urged not only that these negotiations be resumed but that negotiations be initiated with a view to effectively averting the danger of an arms race in outer space.
For that reason, the Government welcome the outcome of the recent meeting in Geneva between US Secretary of State Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko at which the two sides agreed that the objective of the forthcoming US/Soviet negotiations on nuclear and space arms would be "to work out effective agreements aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space and terminating it on earth, at limiting and reducing arms, and at strengthening strategic stability." They hope that these negotiations will bring agreement not alone on controlling the growth of nuclear arms but on substantial reductions of nuclear weapons to the lowest possible level.
In this regard the Government welcome the aspiration in the joint statement issued after the meeting that "the sides believe that ultimately the forthcoming negotiations, just as efforts in general to limit and reduce arms, should lead to the complete elimination of nuclear arms everywhere." These sentiments have been repeated this week by President Reagan in his inaugural address. They represent a welcome re-statement of American aims.
If they are seriously to set about controlling and substantially reducing nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon states, in our view, must make efforts to cease refining and upgrading the elements which make up these weapons. It is this reasoning which has led the Government to support calls made at the United Nations for a comprehensive approach to halting and reversing the growth of nuclear weapons including the testing, production and deployment of these weapons.
May I ask the Minister two questions? Is the Minister aware that in the known, declared nuclear arsenal held by the two major super powers there is the equivalent of three tonnes of TNT per man, woman and child on the face of this planet? Is he aware that in the known arsenal that is the figure? In view of the incident in Scandinavia when a Russian weapon was set off by "accident", and in view of the reported weapon or some form of missile in Donegal last year, is the Minister concerned that this very large arsenal of nuclear weapons can be controlled by computer? Is he concerned about the accidental dangers of such control?
On every occasion on which I have spoken on this subject I have referred to the fact that both nuclear states possess sufficient weapons on each side to eliminate the world ten times over. This is a cause of grave concern not only to this Government but to peace loving people all over the world and peace loving people in both countries concerned. That is why I very much welcome the meeting which took place early this month in Geneva between the American Foreign Secretary and the Soviet Foreign Minister. I would welcome and encourage anything that can be done to enable the two super powers to talk seriously about lowering the level of arms which they hold and eliminating nuclear weapons entirely. I would welcome and encourage that and I will do anything I can to see that other people do the same.
Does the Minister share my concern about the lack of control which the super powers are exercising and the accidental dangers there may be because of the way these weapons are controlled?
I would be very concerned if what the Deputy says is correct, that the supervision and control of these weapons are not fail proof. The greatest protection we can all have from a nuclear war is the elimination of nuclear weapons, and that is what I should like to see.
I know the Minister will agree with me that these are undoubtedly the most important talks which are taking place in the modern world. We all wish them every success. It is very encouraging that they have got off to such a hopeful start. Does the Minister see any role for the Community in regard to these talks? Is there any encouragement the Community could give, or is it the view in the Community that it is better to let the two main super powers try to come to an agreement without any undue interference from anybody else? Is there an honest broker or goodwill role which the Community could play in regard to these talks in view of their absolutely essential importance?
I do not think that at the moment there is a role for an honest broker. That does not mean that such a role might not arise in the future. The role of the Community as a Community and as individual member states should be to encourage both sides to continue those talks in as open, constructive and positive a manner as possible. The greatest hope for disarmament in the world is the building up of confidence between the two holders of nuclear weapons to the extent that they would not feel it was necessary to hold stock piles of weapons and that they would gradually begin to dismantle their stocks of nuclear weapons and in time, perhaps, eliminate them. I have an open mind as to whether at some stage in the future we might play some sort of an honest broker role. I do not think now is the time to do it.