Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

It is not my view or that of the Government that the NPT is defunct. It is accepted, however, that it faces major challenges and the review conference in 2005 was a grave disappointment. In September 2005, when the UN reform package was finalised, I echoed the words of Kofi Annan on the NPT. The fact that there are challenges should not deflect us from encouraging all states to participate in the NPT.

Under the treaty, it is accepted that countries can have nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. They have that right and it is not fair to say that countries with that capability can quickly proceed to a military mode. It is the case that the treaty is under pressure and Ireland, with other countries in the New Agenda Coalition, strongly promotes the review of the NPT constantly. The proposed agreement between the US and India is one of a series of issues that are not yet finalised and they put pressure on the treaty but we should not remove our focus from the twin approach in the NPT, of which Ireland was an architect many years ago, in less complicated but more dangerous times. In those days there were only two powers but there is now a multiplicity of powers. That is why the NPT is based on multilateralism. It is much better to have countries adopt principles to which we can all adhere, even though we may not agree with them on nuclear energy.

Ireland is ready, willing and able to provide assistance and we informed the United Nations Secretary General a year ago that we would participate in any effort to try to ensure that the non-proliferation treaty, the twin track policy of non-proliferation and disarmament, should be the hallmark of the approach to the nuclear-military issue.

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