asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will propose that the international community reopen negotiations for general and complete disarmament, and for the implementation by nuclear powers of Article VI of the non-proliferation treaty by which they undertake to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to a cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date.

18.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call for the imposition of a time limit on the negotiation of a treaty on nuclear disarmament at the forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation treaty discussions in Geneva, Switzerland.

19.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has specific proposals to make at the forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation treaty discussions in Geneva, Switzerland and, if so, if he will outline same.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take questions Nos. 17, 18 and 19 together.

The goal of general and complete disarmament under effective international control was set out by the United Nations as the desired objective in the disarmament field as early as 1961. Ireland fully supports this objective. Nonetheless if we are ever to achieve this goal we must, not simply talk about it, but set out a practical programme on how it can be achieved and encourage realistic measures which will bring it about.

With this in mind Ireland together with five other countries proposed a comprehensive programme on disarmament to the United Nations on 1 December 1970. In the course of his detailed statement on disarmament at the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament in 1978 the former Taoiseach, Deputy Jack Lynch, reiterated Ireland's commitment to general and complete disarmament and towards that end proposed a ten-point programme of concrete disarmament measures. A specific programme of action was agreed at the special session. The UN Disarmament Commission elaborated that programme last May and the Committee on Disarmament has begun work on negotiating the elements of a programme of general and complete disarmament in time for the Second Special Session on Disarmament which will be held in 1982. While general and complete disarmament remains our goal we must recognise that negotiations should continue on arms control and more limited disarmament measures.

At the forthcoming Second Review Conference of the Treaty on the non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons the Irish delegation will work for the strengthening and strict implementation of the provisions of the Treaty. The non-Proliferation Treaty has been successful as an instrument for limiting the spread of nuclear weapons. However, we are seriously concerned that the increasing technological capacity of many countries could place the nuclear weapons option within the reach of more and more countries. The prospect of a continuing arms race between the nuclear powers adds to these concerns. We believe it is particularly important that the forthcoming review conference should reduce these concerns, help arrest the dangerous trends in the arms race and achieve the following concrete results:

(i) a more determined effort by the nuclear powers to fulfil their treaty obligations particularly the solemn obligation contained in Article VI of the treaty on nuclear disarmament;

(ii) the conclusion of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and, in the absence of this, an immediate moratorium on all nuclear weapons testing;

(iii) full guarantees by the nuclear weapon states that they will never use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states; and

(iv) greater control over the transfer of sensitive technology by means of strict and effective implementation of IAEA safeguards.

I understand the Deputy's point in relation to the imposition of time limits for the achievement of general and complete disarmament. However, I think that in the present circumstances such a proposal would have little prospect of meeting with success. In addition negotiations on time limits could delay the urgent task of achieving agreement on substantive and practical disarmament measures.

I have read the former Taoiseach's fine speech on the whole question of nuclear disarmament to the United Nations. Might I ask the Minister firstly: did our changed attitude to the question of non-proliferation, our decision to vote against the non-proliferation treaty represent an alteration in our attitude to trying to make sure that there will be an end to the whole question of nuclear armament? Our position used to be completely unequivocal, that we were opposed to the use of nuclear weapons and wished that they be completely abolished. Has our position changed in any way as a result of the softening of our attitude to the non-proliferation treaty?

I assure the Deputy that there is no softening of our attitude to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. At the forthcoming second review conference to which I have referred we will be working for the strengthening and strict implementation of the provisions of the treaty. Proposals are made from time to time at the UN which are not realistic. We have a reputation for being a realistic country and when we put forward proposals or support proposals they are realistic. There is no point in proposing or supporting what might be termed pious resolutions. Progress can be made only on the basis of supporting resolutions that will be passed and that have the prospect of being implemented.

Question No. 20.

I have always considered the word "realistic" to be one of the most dangerous words in a politician's vocabulary because it can mean anything. Would the Minister agree that we are in a unique position in that there is no question of our ever having bombs or using them, to set a target such as a five-year limit which would give the opportunity of working towards some sort of limit rather than having merely the SALT agreement which is limited to two countries and does not encompass France, Britain or China and also——

This is a long statement.

That may be so, but we are all involved in this.

I appreciate the Deputy's concern in this area. It is a matter of concern for all of us but, having studied the matter in detail, we have concluded that the best way to approach it is to strengthen the existing non-proliferation agreement and to ensure that there is strict implementation and monitoring of it in order to ensure its enforcement. There is a prospect of getting agreement among the nations on that aspect but I agree in principle with what the Deputy says.

Does the Minister mean all the nations?

Yes, and I include in that the nuclear nations. I agree that in theory the imposition of a time limit would be the ideal but from the soundings we have made our information is that such a proposal would have little prospect of meeting with success. That is the reality of the situation on the ground. We are going ahead and supporting disarmament proposals which we consider will get the backing of all of the UN. This is a proposal that could have the effect of reducing armaments and of ensuring the continuation of the development towards curbing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

There was a phrase in a speech made by the former Taoiseach to the effect that we should not contribute to the rhetoric on disarmament that was recorded down through the years. Looking back over the years since 1960, would the Minister not agree that the general impression is that there has been more rhetoric than action in this whole area?

This is purely argumentative.

I would not agree with the Deputy. Much progress was made last year in this regard.

Would the Minister not agree that it is impossible to come to any lasting agreement with the Russians who have succeeded in fooling statesmen of the world and who are engaged in double talk and double think? Would the Minister not agree also that when the Russians talk about peace and disarmament and when they are endeavouring to persuade other nations to engage in disarmament, they are arming themselves to the teeth and continuing to invade friendly nations such as North Yemen, South Yemen, Afghanistan and many countries in Africa? Is it not time that the statesmen of the world awoke to the wiliness of the Russians?

They lost millions of their people in the last war while we remained neutral.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Did the Deputy not offer his services?

One of the problems in regard to any disarmament proposal and its administration is the very real difficulty in monitoring such a proposal within a State of the nature of the USSR.

20.