Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I am disappointed that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has left the Chamber. While the Dáil was not in session during the summer, Ireland changed its position on an important matter. It had a blocking vote, in other words, consensus was required, at the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Ireland has ratified the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. However, this treaty, one of the most important parts of Irish foreign policy, has been endangered by Ireland agreeing to the US-India nuclear agreement, a matter we discussed at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. There has been an understanding for many years that Ireland would not facilitate the emergence of a new nuclear power such as India and Pakistan which are both nuclear powers. Ireland has used its vote to facilitate an exception with regard to the Nuclear Suppliers Group which has more than 40 members. This has created a situation where new nuclear reactors are not responsible to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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