Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - French Nuclear Weapons Testing.

Mr. T. Kitt

The time has now come for the EU to take off the gloves on French nuclear testing. The second nuclear test, which is said to be more than ten times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, must be the last. The French Government has treated all of us with contempt. It has defied the European Commission's call under the EURATOM Treaty for full information on the environmental dangers before any further tests were carried out.

I call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State, Deputy Burton, to make immediate arrangements in co-operation with like-minded EU states to take France to the European Court and ensure this most recent test, this last insult, is the final one. I also ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to put France on notice that we will seek a revision of the EURATOM at the EU intergovernmental conference next year to ensure that any EU state will not be allowed by law to behave in a renegade manner as the French are doing in the South Pacific.

The French have, in effect, put the whole of the South Pacific under house arrest. Their response to legitimate concerns from the region and around the world can only be described as disgraceful. A more direct involvement of President Clinton in bringing an end to the nuclear testing should be sought by the Government. We have always been strong advocates of a comprehensive test ban treaty and the French should be told by the US that we have had enough. They should agree to stop the tests and sign the comprehensive test ban treaty next year.

I am aware many Irish people have boycotted French goods as a result of the nuclear testing and this is perfectly understandable. The anger is not directed at the French people but at what can only be described as an arrogant and stubborn government. I will not propose a recall of our ambassador or an all-out boycott of French goods at this stage, as we should concentrate our energies on taking legal action at European level. However, this Parliament should make a significant demonstration of its anger by agreeing to boycott French wine in the Dáil restaurant, bar and shop. I hope we have all-party agreement on this matter. It would be a small gesture but it would be an important signal from this Parliament of its strong cross-party views. I would be grateful to you, a Cheann Comhairle, if you would convey my views on this matter to the appropriate Oireachtas committee.

Mr. Deasy

What does the Deputy expect the Labour Party to drink?

Mr. T. Kitt

I have heard strong voices in the Labour Party on this issue. I hope we will have agreement.

Next year we will have the Presidency of the EU and host the intergovernmental conference on common security. If the French have their way the EU will become a nuclear alliance. My response to President Chirac on this matter would be "No, thank you". I would express the view of the vast majority of not only the Irish people but, according to the latest opinion polls, the 70 per cent of the French people who disapprove of his actions.

On Friday last an article in the French newspaper Le Monde stated that there is a need to learn to listen to the justifiable preoccupations of men and women who want more from France than an arrogant lone knight.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Ms Burton)

The Deputy and his party have the advantage over the rest of us of their special relationship with President Chirac and his party, and I am sure they will take appropriate action.

Mr. T. Kitt

That is below the belt.

Mr. Cowen

Will the Minister of State talk to her socialist colleagues about CAP reform?

An Ceann Comhairle

I insist on order at this stage. The time for Adjournment debates is limited and there should not be interruptions.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Ms Burton)

The Tánaiste outlined to the House on 20 September the total opposition of the Government to all nuclear weapons testing. In the light of the further French test at Fangataufa Atoll yesterday, I reaffirm to the House the Government's unequivocal, enduring and consistent stance on testing nuclear weapons. In this respect, I wish to record here the deep concern and disappointment felt by the Government that France, a country with which Ireland has much in common and with which we have long and close relations, should proceed with a further nuclear test, of considerably larger dimensions than the previous test, in the face of almost universal opposition and criticism, and despite the concerns which Ireland and many other friendly states have made clear.

The Government has availed of, and will continue to avail of, appropriate opportunities to convey its concerns to the Government of France. This House will understand these concerns have not been expressed selectively; the Government has also made its views clear to the Chinese Government in relation to the two Chinese tests earlier this year.

In common with a number of our EU partners, we have urged France to end without delay its testing programme in the South Pacific and to thereby set an international example in support of moratoriums on nuclear testing, with a view to early progress towards a comprehensive test ban treaty. We have, in particular, emphasised the commitment made by the nuclear weapons states, including France, at the review conference of the non-proliferation treaty. This commitment was to exercise "utmost restraint" pending the entry into force of a comprehensive test ban treaty.

The Tánaiste has brought directly to the attention of the French Government Irish disappointment and concern that France has proceeded with this testing programme in the face of unprecedented opposition on the part of countries of the Pacific region and despite numerous appeals to desist, addressed to France by friendly countries, including Ireland.

The House will already be aware that the Government has used the opportunities provided by meetings in the framework of the European Union to raise our concerns. For example, the Tánaiste, at the EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Santander last month, emphasised the Government's views and the strength of opinion on this issue within Ireland to the Foreign Ministers of France. A number of EU partners also made clear their strong views. The Taoiseach also raised the issue with President Chirac at the informal meeting of heads of State or Government in Mallorca on 22 and 23 September. Yesterday, in the immediate aftermath of the French test at Fangataufa, the Tánaiste and a number of our partners took the issue up again with the Foreign Minister of France at a meeting of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

Ireland has been active also at the multilateral level. The Tánaiste in his address last week at the 50th Session of the UN General Assembly, highlighted the issue before the United Nations. He drew attention to the fact that the great majority of the Irish people easily understand and share the deep concern of the peoples in the South Pacific. He drew attention also to the dismay and rejection caused by the resumption of nuclear testing in the immediate aftermath of the successful outcome of the NPT review conference. He emphasised the great importance the Government attaches to finalising a comprehensive test ban treaty early next year.

The French Government, for its part, have indicated it will commit itself to a fully comprehensive test ban treaty. This is a significant statement. For our part, we will continue to work to bring an end as soon as possible all nuclear tests. That is our priority and we earnestly hope that France will heed the sustained and widespread calls to end once and for all and without delay its programme of nuclear testing. I note these demands are widespread, not just in Ireland but more particularly in France itself.