Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

On the question raised by Senator Bannon, the Commission advice was solely on administrative details and clarified how other member states proposed to deal with the administration. Changes that have taken place since the Bill was initiated in the House, such as those pertaining to radioactive waste, are totally outside its scope. The legislation is unaffected by the delay in its passage. It is only concerned with implementing the protocol and has nothing to do with other EU directives.

The protocol cannot come into force in the Union until all 13 member states without nuclear weapons – of the 15 member states, France and the United Kingdom have such weapons – have the necessary requirements in place for enforcing its provisions. Ireland and Italy are the only two states that do not have these in place. The moral authority of Ireland's traditional position on nuclear non-proliferation would be seriously undermined if we did not ratify the protocol. It is necessary that we have the implementing provisions enshrined in Irish law before the end of the year and before we assume the Presidency of the EU. We intend to lead from the front and we are doing so in the national interest.

As soon as the Bill is enacted, the protocol will be ratified and there will be no delay in signing the regulations. Given the Bill's passage through the House today, I hope the protocol, for which there is almost unanimous support, will be signed and brought into force before the end of the year.