Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The IAEA set out at some length its concerns about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme in its report of 8 November. This report concluded that the available information indicates that Iran had carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device. Its most recent report, which was published in May, states that because Iran is not providing the necessary co-operation and is not implementing its additional protocol, the agency is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran and therefore cannot conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is used for peaceful activities. The Irish Government and our EU partners are satisfied that the IAEA's reports are credible and their conclusions must be taken seriously. The November report is based on information drawn from a wide variety of sources, including regular inspection visits by IAEA inspectors to Iran, and is deemed to be consistent in terms of technical content, individual and organisational involvement and timeframes. The IAEA is the international watchdog on these matters and has unrivalled technical expertise and a record of absolute impartiality and independence. Its report was the basis for the European Union's decision on sanctions, the objective of which was to bring Iran to the table to negotiate in a meaningful way in the E3+3 process.

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