Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

Essentially, we are dealing with double standards of the most profound nature. Israel has been in defiance of UN security council resolutions on this issue. It has not opened up its facilities but no sanctions whatsoever have been taken. As the Minister of State has acknowledged, it is not a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty while, on the other hand, Iran is a signatory. Iran has tried to be a responsible member of the international community. It has tried to meet the agreed responsibilities of the international community, that is, not to allow any further proliferation of nuclear weapons. However, it has faced sanctions of the strongest terms. There are double standards and there is a lack of balance. What does Israel get? Not only are there no sanctions against Israel but it is party to favourable trade agreements with the European Union. We wonder why so many people in the Middle East and the wider region have no confidence in the United States and the European Union to negotiate a fair settlement of the conflicts. Why is the European Union, of which Ireland is a part, applying double standards and undermining consistency and trust in our role as an arbiter of peace and conflict resolution?

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