Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

Deputy Michael Higgins said it and I do not doubt his word. India is a country which has ignored the NPT for almost 40 years. I am not in favour of appeasement, but at the same time, Iran is being threatened in a belligerent manner over its nuclear programme by the very people entering into agreement with India. Does the Minister agree we must have some consistency on the control of nuclear weapons? Does he also agree, in the words of Dr. Hans Blix, that instead of threatening and backing Iran into a corner, there should be realistic discussions with the Iranians and a conciliatory approach made with them to reach some agreement on their nuclear programme. Currently, we have, at best, misguided policies and at worst, total hypocrisy and double standards, depending on which country is developing nuclear weapons. We turn a blind eye towards Israel which recently tacitly acknowledged it has nuclear weapons. At the same time Iran is being backed into a corner giving rise to the danger it may go down the wrong road.

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