Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. There is absolutely no moral or political excuse for any country to have nuclear weapons. They are always utterly unjustifiable. As such, it is an international disgrace that countries continue to spend billions of euro and dollars on these weapons while so many people throughout the world are cold and hungry. That is the core of this debate. Ireland has always taken a leading position on this issue on the international stage. We should now take an even stronger position and provide further leadership by working in conjunction with countries that share our world vision. There are elements in this society and in this Government that would, given half a chance, have us all in the nuclear club. It is up to Deputies of all parties and none to stand firm on this issue.

I support the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. How can anybody who calls to mind what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki take a different view? Some of our world leaders are living on another planet when it comes to this issue and must be challenged everywhere, including in the Dáil, at the United Nations and at European Union level. The Government must take the challenge to the international stage. I support non-violent campaigns to rid the world of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction with a view to ensuring genuine security for future generations. I oppose all nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, their development, manufacture, testing, deployment and threatened use by any country. I would like to see four simple things happen. I would like to see the elimination of all nuclear weapons by our nearest neighbour, Britain, not to mention the global abolition of nuclear weapons; the abolition of other weapons of mass destruction with indiscriminate effect; a nuclear-free, a less militarised and more secure Europe, and a broader debate on the nuclear power industry, a debate from which we seem to run away.

It is important Independent Deputies express their views, which are not always against everything. I always bring forward constructive proposals. I would like to change Government policies as a major contribution to bring about the global elimination of nuclear weapons. I would like to see a wider public debate on the need for alternatives to the nuclear cycle and military attempts to resolve conflict. I would like to empower the people to engage actively in the political process to work for a nuclear free and peaceful future. I would like to co-operate with groups in Ireland, at UN and EU levels and internationally to ensure greater mutual security. These are core and important issues in the debate.

I mention the misinformation in recent weeks on the topical issue of Iran's nuclear activities. The United States, its European allies and even Israel generally agree on three things about Iran's nuclear programme: Teheran does not have a bomb, it has not decided to build one and it is probably years from having a deliverable nuclear warhead. From my point of view, Iran has no nuclear weapons. I met the Iranian ambassador recently and received a commitment from him on that issue. Iran has no nuclear weapons programme. The supreme leader of Iran, whether we agree or disagree with him or like his politics, said that as far as he was concerned, the possession of weapons was a grave sin. The November 2011 report of the IAEA did not claim Iran had a nuclear weapons programme. Iran is not in breach of any obligation under the NPT. Uranium enrichment is Iran's inalienable right under the NPT. The United States and its allies are trying to deny Iran its right to uranium enrichment under the treaty. These are the facts. Iran's nuclear facilities are open to regular inspection but Israel's are not. That seems to be the elephant in the room and the silence in Europe is deafening.

A double standard is being applied in regard to the possession of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Iran which has none is the subject of ferocious economic sanctions and the threats of military action. Sadly, the Government seems to be silent on this issue. Israel which has as many as 400 weapons and the ability to deliver them to any capital in the Middle East is the beneficiary of more than $3 billion in military aid. How many houses and schools could be provided and how many homeless people and Palestinians could be helped with this money? That is the question we must raise. The United States, Israel and others which are threatening military action against Iran are in breach of Article 2.4 of the UN charter which requires all UN member states to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. This is something we should highlight.

It is important that Ireland, as an independent and neutral state which is highly respected on the international stage, given its history and anti-colonial past, use its clout. I know from talking to ambassadors from Argentina, Cuba and elsewhere that they have great respect for Ireland, but they also expect it to act as a peace broker. That is something at which we should look.

In recent days we witnessed the row about the Malvinas with Argentina. We should say to Britain that it should go to the United Nations to try to resolve the issue. We should not be namby-pamby, walk away and issue press releases. I was very disappointed with Mr. David Cameron's stance in recent days on the Malvinas. I know where I stand on the issue and others know too, given what I call the islands.

Ireland has the potential to be a nuclear and peace broker on the international stage. That is why we want a strong and decisive Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. We want leadership, commitment and determination, which reflects their views. Iran does not have a nuclear weapons programme.

I would like to bring forward some proposals on what Ireland can do because it is all very well to give out about things. Ireland, despite its economic difficulties, should continue to pay a leading role in support of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. It should take the lead in working for a nuclear weapons convention, together with other like-minded states. It should be used as a base for debates and conferences. We should bring international peace activitists here and use our clout. Ireland should continue to support the processes and frameworks of the non-proliferation treaty, but it must be prepared to move beyond the NPT to address the treaty's weaknesses which it should pick out and get on with it. It should engage with NGOs such as the International Red Cross and the International Red Crescent and like-minded states to apply international humanitarian law to achieve a ban on nuclear weapons. It should also support a multilateral approach to easing the nuclear tensions in the Middle East. That is where we can come on the pitch and deliver. Ireland should ban investments by State funds and financial institutions based here in companies involved in the nuclear arms industry.

We have a glorious opportunity. The Tánaiste has said Ireland has pursued a policy of complete opposition to nuclear weapons and that this policy has enjoyed strong cross-party political support in this House, which is very important. However, we need to up our game in this regard. We need to say on the international stage that Ireland stands for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Ireland should look at the economic argument also. What is the logic in spending billions of euro and dollars on building nuclear weapons, the vast majority of which, thankfully or I hope, will never be used when there are areas of the world which need massive investment and in which people are starving? This issue must be linked in the debate.

Article 29.1 of the Constitution states, "Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality". We should demand on the international stage an end to spending on, and the elimination of, nuclear weapons.

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