Trevor Sargent
Ceist:41 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the way Ireland voted in the World Health Assembly vote on the illegality of nuclear weapons.
Written Answers. - World Health Assembly Vote.
The World Health Assembly, held in Geneva on 10-14 May 1993, considered a resolution which sought to ask the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion on whether the use of nuclear weapons by a state in war or other armed conflict would be a breach of that state's obligations under international law, including the WHO constitution. Voting took place by secret ballot. The outcome was that the resolution was adopted by 73 votes in favour, 31 against, with 6 abstentions.
It is a longstanding practice not to reveal how Ireland votes in secret ballots held in international organisations, and I do not intend to deviate from that practice on this occasion.