Vol. 435 No. 11
42 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the directions, if any, that were given to the Irish delegation prior to voting at the 46 World Health Assembly on the health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons, in view of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997 to introduce freedom of information legislation.
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.
Ireland's opposition to nuclear weapons is of long standing and well known. Successive Governments have made clear our policy or seeking the complete elimination of all nuclear weapons and the conclusion of a comprehension nuclear test ban treaty.
The broad approach which the Irish delegation took to the World Health Assembly, in so far as my Department was concerned, was that the issue of the legality of the use of nuclear weapons raised a number of political as well as legal issues, and was more appropriate to the United Nations General Assembly than the World Health Organisation. The General Assembly can also appropriately look not only at the question of the use of nuclear weapons, but also the justification for the threat of such use.
