Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the EU3 negotiations on behalf of the Union with Iran regarding nuclear development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25153/06]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position in relation to the confrontation between western Governments and Iran in relation to nuclear capacity. [25257/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 89 together.

The question of Iran's nuclear programme is kept under constant review within the European Union at official level and is also the subject of regular discussions at Ministerial level, most recently at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting of 12 -13 June, which Minister Ahern attended. At this meeting Ministers discussed latest developments including the package of incentives that was presented to Iran by High Representative Solana on 6 June.

The package contains a number of significant elements in the areas of nuclear, economic and political cooperation. In the nuclear field, it reaffirms Iran's right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and proposes cooperation with Iran to build a modern proliferation-proof nuclear power programme; legally binding guarantees of fuel supply are also proposed. On the economic and political fronts, a number of benefits are proposed, such as dialogue on regional security issues, as well as a strategic energy partnership with the EU.

Some initial Iranian comments have suggested that there may be some elements of the package on which Iran might seek clarification. Last week, High Representative Solana announced that he had spoken with Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, and would be meeting with him in the coming days to explain the package of incentives further. It is important, however, that Iran engage genuinely and substantively as quickly as possible.

The question of Iran's nuclear programme is an issue of concern to the whole international community and not just western Governments. This is clear, inter alia, from the many IAEA Board of Governors resolutions in recent years. Moreover, before the package of incentives was presented to Iran by High Representative Solana, the Foreign Ministers of the EU3 met with their counterparts from the United States, Russia and China. At this meeting the incentives package was endorsed by all of the countries present. Both Russia and the US have also confirmed that they are prepared to enter into negotiations with Iran provided that all enrichment and reprocessing activities are suspended beforehand.

The Government's position on the Iranian nuclear programme is a matter of public record. Ireland remains strongly committed to a diplomatic solution to this issue. Minister Ahern has made clear on several occasions Ireland's full support for the EU3 efforts in this respect. It is now essential for Iran to constructively examine the proposals that have been received. Immediate suspension of enrichment activities will allow for early and substantive discussion on the package and provide an opportunity for any clarification needed of its details. I would urge Iran to respond quickly and take the steps necessary to enable progress towards a diplomatic solution.