Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 5: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the resolution of the Malvinas Falklands dispute at the UN level [33966/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The question of the Falkland Islands, Malvinas, has been the subject of ten resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as resolutions of its special committee on decolonisation. On 16 December 1965, the General Assembly adopted resolution 2065 (XX), which invited the Governments of the United Kingdom and Argentina to proceed without delay with the negotiations recommended by the then special committee on the situation with regard to the implementation of the declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples, requesting them to report back on results of the negotiations.

The General Assembly again addressed the issue at its plenary session on 14 December 1973 and adopted resolution 3160 (XXVIII). This resolution noted the passage of time since the previous resolution and the fact that no substantial progress had been made in negotiations. The resolution again urged the Governments of the United Kingdom and Argentina to proceed without delay with the negotiations in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly.

The question was the subject of another resolution in 1976 and of annual resolutions between 1982 and 1988. The most recent resolution, 43/25, was adopted in 1988 in which the General Assembly reiterated its request to the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom to initiate negotiations with a view to finding the means to resolve peacefully and definitively the problems between both countries, including all aspects of the future of the Falkland Islands, Malvinas, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

The issue has also been discussed at the UN's special committee on decolonisation every year since 1964. In its most recent resolution, adopted on 14 June 2012, the committee expressed its regret that, despite widespread international support for negotiation between the two Governments, implementation of General Assembly resolutions on the question had not yet started.

Additional Information not given on the floor of the House.

The Governments were requested to consolidate the current process of dialogue and co-operation through resumed negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the dispute relating to the question of the Falkland Islands, Malvinas, in line with General Assembly resolutions. I would encourage the United Kingdom and Argentina, two countries with which Ireland has excellent bilateral relations, to pursue a peaceful resolution of their differences on this matter, based on the relevant UN resolutions.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. As he stated there have been ten resolutions calling on the UK and Argentinian Governments to proceed to negotiations without delay. However, the Minister of State ignored the fact that the UK is not co-operating with the United Nations resolutions.

Will the Minister of State accept that in recent months there has been a major militarisation of the south Atlantic in the region of the Malvinas Islands? Will he further accept that this is totally unacceptable and is very provocative to the Argentinian people? Will the Minister of State also accept, as would any international observer or person from Ireland, which is a neutral country, that historically the Malvinas Islands have belonged to the Argentinian people?

Will the Minister of State accept the right of Argentina, as a sovereign nation and country, which is now a democracy, to claim the Malvinas Islands through peaceful and democratic means? Will he support the formal complaints and resolutions at the United Nations in relation to this militarisation of the south Atlantic around the Malvinas Islands and will he put pressure on the UK Government to come to the table and talk with the representations of the Argentinian people on this issue?

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank Deputy McGrath for his questions. As stated by the Deputy, there have been multiple EU resolutions on this issue, including a special committee resolution as recently as last month. However, there has been little progress made. Ireland has supported the United Nations and the international community on this matter. We have supported the European Union, the position of which is that both countries should engage in negotiations. It is impossible for us to compel both countries to do so. I agree with the Deputy that the situation has not improved in recent times despite that these resolutions have been repeated on numerous occasions by the European Union. Ireland strongly supports the resolutions put forward by the European Union. We will continue to support the United Nations position on this issue.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I accept the Minister of State's point on the issue of compelling. However, staying silent at international level over fear of upsetting our neighbour, Britain, is not an option. Until 1997 Hong Kong was a British colony and many people are suggesting such a model as a solution for the Malvinas issue. I want the Labour Party through the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, to assert Ireland's independent foreign democratic peaceful policy that is at the core of the Labour Party and not to be excessively influenced by those in Europe connected with NATO and those in the Government connected with Fine Gael.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Ireland does not take a position on the sovereignty issue. We regard the United Nations as the international forum for dealing with these matters and the negotiations should take place in accordance with the many United Nations resolutions on the issue. We will continue to support that position and we will argue it at the United Nations at all times.