Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 7

Written Answers. - Bombing of Pan-Am Aeroplane over Lockerbie.

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

27 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's attitude in the ongoing dispute between America and Libya regarding the shooting down of a Pan-Am aeroplane over Lockerbie; whether Ireland supports the call for further sanctions against Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Máirín Quill

Ceist:

38 Miss Quill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's attitude in the ongoing dispute between America and Libya regarding the shooting down of a Pan-Am aeroplane over Lockerbie; whether Ireland supports the call for further sanctions against Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 38 together.

Together with our European Union partners, Ireland has implemented in full the sanctions imposed by UN Security Council Resolutions 748 of 31 March 1992 and 883 of 11 November 1993. Ireland fully supports these resolutions through which sanctions were imposed upon Libya because of its failure to comply with UN Security Council demands that it co-operate fully with the investigation into the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie and of UTA flight 772 over Niger. A total of 441 innocent lives were lost in these two appalling outrages. Three of the Pan Am victims were Irish citizens.

The Security Council has demanded that the two Libyan nationals accused of the Lockarbie should stand trial in the appropriate United Kingdom or United States court, and that the Libyan Government satisfy the French judicial authorities with respect to the bombing of flight UTA 772.

Ireland endorses the view of the Security Council that the Libyan authorities have not yet fully co-operated with the French and British investigations into the two bombings. Until such time as they do, we will continue to support the maintenance of these sanctions. On 10 December 1993, the Security Council renewed the sanctions imposed by Resolution 748 for a further 120 days.

The question of any further sanctions against Libya would be a matter for the Security Council to decide upon.