Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy Crowe's point on the issue of isolation, Ireland has diplomatic relations with North Korea. We do not have a resident embassy there but through our diplomatic relations we make our point of view very clearly known and independently known. Over many decades Ireland has taken a leading role in regard to nuclear non-proliferation. We are very clear in our view. We are one of the leading countries in the world which says that nuclear weapons pose a huge threat to humanity and to peace and stability in the world. The idea that a country would develop a nuclear weapon as some form of a defence mechanism is wrong.

We must rid the world of nuclear weapons and that is why we have been such a strong proponent of the comprehensive test ban treaty and the non-proliferation treaty. We continue to make this point of view very clearly known in all international fora.

We did not have a lengthy discussion on North Korea at the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. There have been discussions on several occasions previously about the situation in Iran. We are anxious to get the E3 + 3 talks going and effective and that is why a sanctions regime was agreed by the European Union with regard to Iran to encourage that country to go back to the table to engage in the E3 + 3 talks. The Iranians have come back to the table but unfortunately there has not been a very meaningful engagement so far. The approach of the European Union to Iran and its nuclear ambitions is to get it to comply with what the IEA is demanding of it.

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