Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Ireland has a very long and proud track record of promoting non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and that position remains absolute and consistent. This is position is not applied differently to Iran or to anywhere else. We want to see a nuclear-free zone with countries completely free of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. This means no nuclear weapons in Israel, no nuclear weapons in Iran and no nuclear weapons anywhere else. We all understand the horror that can be inflicted on the region and on the world by the outbreak of a nuclear war. The reason for sanctions on Iran is simple; the IAEA has made a report which has been considered by the European Union. Iran is a party to the non-proliferation treaty. A country cannot be a party to the non-proliferation treaty and ignore its obligations under that treaty and if a country ignores its obligations there has to be some action and some sanction. In this case, the sanction that has been applied is that Iran has been told it should engage in discussions so that the problem is hammered out using the E3+3 format. Iran will be permitted to use nuclear energy for peaceful energy purposes but it cannot develop nuclear weapons. The European Union is asking Iran to engage in talks. Ireland supports that position and we will continue to do so. Our role in respect of the Middle East generally has been a very positive role in promoting a peaceful solution in the Middle East. I am very proud of the fact that Ireland played a very active role in securing an agreed European Union position which is a very strong position, on the settlements issue in Palestine. Ireland has a very strong record on that issue both within the European Union and at the United Nations.

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