Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I will not delay the House because the Ceann Comhairle has been very fair.

An issue is raised because it is rare to have legislation on foreign affairs. We must try to establish scrutiny through the treaties and departure from them. Members on this side of the House should know that the non-nuclear proliferation treaty was one of the great achievements of a Fianna Fáil Minister and it was associated with Mr. Frank Aiken. Through stealth when the Dáil was not in session, the Government removed the vote it had and waved on the US-India nuclear agreement.

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