asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans he has to operate trade sanctions against South Africa; when he proposes to introduce any such sanctions; the goods which will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Trade Sanctions against South Africa.
20.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement which I made to the House in response to a question on sanctions on 5 November 1985 when I said that:
The Government consider that the imposition of effective mandatory sanctions against South Africa is a means of further increasing international pressure on South Africa to abandon its apartheid policies and to this end has supported proposals that the UN Security Council should consider such actions. In 1984 Ireland co-sponsored a resolution to this effect at the UN General Assembly and has previously co-sponsored resolutions urging the imposition of an oil embargo and a ban on new investment in South Africa. The Government believe that sanctions should be carefully chosen, graduated, properly imposed by the Security Council in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and fully implemented.
This remains Government policy and Ireland co-sponsored a similar resolution in 1985. So far the United Nations Security Council has imposed only one mandatory sanction under Resolution 418 of 1977 which imposes an embargo on the sales of arms or related materials to South Africa. Ireland scrupulously observes the terms of that resolution and in fact has maintained an embargo on such sales on a voluntary basis since 1963. As I stated to the House in November, it is also Government policy to work towards making mandatory the embargo on imports of arms and paramilitary equipment contained in Security Council Resolution 558 of 1984.
It is also Government policy to promote a strong policy on apartheid within the Twelve. On 10 September 1985 the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve agreed a package of both positive and restrictive measures towards South Africa. The Ministers stated that if there was no progress in South Africa within a reasonable period then further measures, including sanctions, would have to be considered.