Deputy Haughey, and then I am giving Deputy Mitchell the last question.

It is my innate politeness and good manners breaking out, a Cheann Comhairle.

I admire it greatly.

I should like to raise a few further points for information. Most Deputies go a long way towards agreeing with each other on these vital, perhaps the most vital, questions facing us all in the modern world, but the Minister inadvertently slipped into talking about the two nuclear powers. I am sure he meant——

The two super powers.

——the need to have multilateral disarmament of all kinds. Would the Minister use every means available to him to encourage the renewal and, hopefully the successful renewal, of the summit process which appeared to be so optimistic last year but which seems to have gone a little awry recently? May I take it that it is the position of the Irish Government to use every endeavour to encourage the renewal and reinforcement of that process between the two super powers? Even though it is a multilateral question it is through the joint efforts, hopefully, of the two super powers that progress will be made. Could I also ask the Minister whether or not we are also pursuing every avenue open to us through the United Nations? I would like the Minister to reaffirm that while we recognise the reality of the position of the two super powers, nevertheless, for a small nation like ours it is to the United Nations and their procedures we must ultimately look for success in this area.

I agree. We will continue to underline the importance of the United Nations in all these questions and use the general council and each of their committees to reinforce that message. The nuclear test ban treaty is the most important thing which has come out of the United Nations. As I said in answer to Deputy Mitchell's question, we were one of the main architects and will continue to be one of the strongest supporters of that. That role will continue as long as I am in this office.

I do not believe that disarmament is one of the most important questions facing the world. It is the most important question facing the modern world.

In view of the contribution to the Second World War which one sided restraint on armaments made, can I take it that it is a central plank in Government policy that a balanced reduction in nuclear armaments and in armaments generally should be attained?

The Deputy can, indeed. With the goal being the complete elimination of weapons, the only realistic policy to pursue within that goal is a balanced reduction.