Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

There was great disappointment among those who defend Ireland's position of neutrality at the closure of our embassy in Tehran. Ireland was a driving force in the non-proliferation treaty and was one of the first states invited to sign it. It is unfortunate that we have supported sanctions against Iran which were advocated by the US, Britain and certain other European states.

The report prepared by the IAEA did not provide any evidence that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Indeed, US intelligence services have been unable to provide evidence that such a programme exists. It is clear that Iran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Israel, however, is reputed to possess more than 400 nuclear warheads even while it increases its trade with the European Union. It is also the biggest beneficiary of state aid from the United States, receiving $3 billion per annum. Does the Tánaiste agree that double standards are being applied and that Iran has the right to develop a nuclear enrichment programme for peaceful purposes if it is fully supervised, as I am sure it will agree, by the IAEA? It is unreasonable for any state to argue otherwise.

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