Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad of the opportunity to speak on this very important topic and I thank the two Deputies involved for giving us the opportunity to debate it. It is very important that we all recognise the fact that an atom bomb or nuclear weapon could end all of the talk and all of the work in seconds if it was deployed near us or even far from us. Pope Francis expressed his horror at the effects of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. He said that, "We must never grow weary of working to support the principal international legal instruments of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons." He went on to say that, "The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral." I worry about the countries that did not sign the TPNW. The USA, Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel boycotted the negotiations. That is very serious and we should never let them forget it. Our Government should keep reminding them and working to the principle that we must not use nuclear or atomic weapons in any struggle or strife.

We must remember what happened in Chernobyl and in Nagasaki - the massive destruction, the damage done to man, woman and child and all forms of life, including animals and fauna. Everything was wiped out. It is really serious. We saw the little children who came to this country from Chernobyl who were missing hands, feet, legs and limbs. What these weapons can do is so devastating. We must work together in this Parliament to ensure that we get the message across that there is no place for nuclear weapons because they could lead to the destruction of the entire world.

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