asked the Taoiseach if the Government intend to take any initiative in the United Nations or in any other forum to encourage and foster progress on multilateral nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament.
2.
As was the case with Fianna Fáil Governments over the years, the present Government are determined to play the active and constructive role in matters relating to disarmament which Ireland, as a neutral country, should be playing, in particular in the area of nuclear disarmament.
The Government are following with great interest developments in the arms control dialogue between the US and the Soviet Union. We are encouraged by the progress in these discussions and hope they can be marked by agreement in the near future.
While Ireland is neither directly nor indirectly involved in the dialogue we welcome its comprehensive nature and the prospects which it holds of agreement, for the first time, in reducing the numbers of nuclear weapons of the super powers.
The elimination by both sides of intermediate range nuclear weapons in Europe, which is an area in the super power dialogue where agreement seems closest, would represent a welcome step in reversing the nuclear arms race and in easing tensions generally. The Government hope, however, that the elimination of such weapons in Europe would represent but a first step in eliminating all nuclear weapons.
It is clear that the current focus in the area of arms control and disarmament is in the bilateral field. Nonetheless, we remain deeply conscious of the importance of the multilateral dialogue in the United Nations framework which is where Ireland has the opportunity to make its principal and distinctive contribution and where we have played a positive and constructive role through the years. We are planning full and active participation in the forthcoming conference on the relationship between disarmament and development in August-September, in the Autumn UN General Assembly and in particular in the Third Special Session on Disarmament which is scheduled to take place in 1988.
As Taoiseach in June 1982 I addressed the Second Special Session on Disarmament in New York. I put forward on that occasion a five-point agenda on which I believed the nuclear powers needed to take urgent action. Since then there have been developments including the commencement of the talks mentioned between the super powers on nuclear arms reductions but there has been little, if any, progress made in other areas and in particular on the conclusion of a comprehensive test ban treaty. We will constantly keep in mind, in the light of the forthcoming events and of the bilateral dialogue between the US and the USSR, what actions on our part in the multilateral arena would be worthwhile in pursuit of our goal of nuclear disarmament.
I thank the Taoiseach for that comprehensive statement but it does not answer the question. Does the Taoiseach not agree that it is taking far too relaxed an attitude to this matter to say, as he has said, that Ireland is neither directly nor indirectly involved? Does he not agree that there has been some disquiet following his statement in the House on 22 April last to the effect that the question of disarmament is something about which we need not be concerned as long as it is clear that we are not involved? Does the Taoiseach not agree that, given our status, it is possible for us to take initiatives that will assist both the bilateral and the multilateral dialogue?
The Deputy may have misunderstood what I said on that occasion. Of course we are urgently interested in all disarmament issues. Irish Governments generally have indicated a clear wish to contribute in so far as they can to disarmament efforts. I include all Irish Governments in that. I have taken a very keen personal interest in particular in nuclear disarmament. What I referred to on that occasion was the question of security arrangements in the Community and the discussions which might or might not take place between the member states of the European Community about security and military matters. I said that in so far as our Community partners wished to discuss security matters among themselves, that need not trouble us as long as it was clear that we were not involved in any such discussions of a military nature.
I am sorry if my remarks caused any confusion in that regard. I reiterate for the benefit of the Deputy that the Government hope to follow in the footsteps of all previous Governments in taking any action of a constructive nature available to them in regard to disarmament generally and particularly nuclear disarmament in any fora in which we might be represented but particularly in the United Nations.
Does the Taoiseach not agree that it is a matter of intense and immediate concern to us that discussions should be taking place concerning the number of nuclear missiles that are either sited on the Continent of which we are a part or aimed at that Continent? Will the Taoiseach agree that we should further consider what specific steps we, as a directly interested party while not involved in any military group, might take to push that dialouge along to a conclusion that will reduce the number of missiles either located in or aimed at this Continent?
Yes, I regard it as desirable that we should take any useful action available to us. The Deputy will understand that, to be realistic about the discussions at present taking place between the super powers, we have no specific role to play in that regard except to encourage from the sidelines the efforts that are being made. That is what I was referring to in my reply. Apart from doing everything we can to encourage the participants in these disarmament talks to persist with them and, if possible, to succeed, I am not sure there is much else we can usefully do. However, I think the Deputy will agree that there is a lot we can do in the United Nations forum. In the autumn we will have an opportunity to play a part there.
Will the Taoiseach not agree that it would be useful if, in the first instance, we were to consider what kind of action we might take, in his own phrase, from the sidelines and secure the necessary agreement here publicly for such action, and if, having made that decision, we were to make it clear to other countries, both those involved in bilateral dialogue, in which I agree we cannot directly interfere, and those which are more active in the multilateral framework, in order to push them along the road on which they now seem to be prepared to start.
I would be in general agreement with that.
Given the Taoiseach's very comprehensive reply, his deep interest in disarmament and the deep interest of the Irish people in fostering peace, would he consider instructing his ambassadors to the effect that they could offer this country as a suitable location for summit talks, be they bilateral or multilateral, in the interests of peace?
That is a very good suggestion and I think it has been done on occasion in the past. I would be glad to ensure that our diplomatic service generally would make it known that we are prepared to act as host for any such discussions.
Would that be Government policy?
Yes. I am speaking from memory but I think it is a fact that our diplomatic service has conveyed that view from time to time. If there was anything of that nature by which we could contribute to multilateral disarmament discussions I am sure every Member of this House would wish us to be positive in that regard.
In view of the somewhat damaging allegations being made about the policy of the present Government and of the last Government in relation to disarmament, would the Taoiseach make a clear statement of Government policy relating to nuclear disarmament which would allay the fears being deliberately generated to provoke a negative reaction in respect of the referendum and the Single European Act? Can he say if he considers that to be necessary?
We are widening the scope of the question.
This is a very important question I am trying to be helpful.
On a number of occasions in this House I have indicated the position of my party and of the Government in regard to nuclear disarmament. I indicated that this is probably the most urgent single problem in the international area today. I am not quite sure exactly what further action the Deputy would wish but I am glad to avail of this opportunity to say that this Government would be anxious to play any useful role they could at international level in regard to nuclear disarmament in particular. Also, it would be the policy of this Government to maintain this island as a nuclear free zone and we would wish to take any action available to us with regard to the increasing meance of civil nuclear power and to do anything we could to convey our anxiety about nuclear installations. As the Deputy will recall, this House passed unanimously a resolution in that regard and this is still the unanimous position of the Irish Parliament with regard to the nuclear menace generally.
Deputy McCartan must ask a very brief question because we have spent almost 15 minutes on this one question.
Would the Taoiseach accept that what the last questioner wants the Government to do is to include the Labour Party in the campaign against the Single European Act since they have not abandoned it——
We do not encourage that type of cheap comment.
That is not a relevant question. I am calling Question No. 3.