Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on discussions ongoing between the European Union and Iran with regard to nuclear development in the latter. [18673/07]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to EU talks with Iran regarding nuclear capability in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18699/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 170 together.

The Government and our EU partners share the widespread international concern that Iran has still not complied with its international obligations in respect of its nuclear programme. On 23 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported for the third time that Iran had ignored the demands of the UN Security Council to suspend its uranium enrichment programme, as set out most recently in Security Council Resolution 1747 of 24 March 2007. The Security Council is now considering what further measures might be adopted under the UN Charter in order to achieve Iran's compliance with its international obligations. The most recent meeting of the General Affairs and External Affairs Council, which I attended in Luxembourg on 18 June, reaffirmed the commitment of the EU to finding a diplomatic solution which addresses these concerns. The Council also strongly supported the approach of the UN Security Council, and its determination to adopt further measures.

Deputies will recall that the EU, in cooperation with China, Russia and the United States, has presented a generous set of proposals to Iran, emphasising the potential for greatly improved relations if Iran took clear action to address the issues which have raised concern about the nature of its nuclear programme. The offer from the EU included significant technology transfer to provide Iran with a modern civil nuclear capacity. It is regrettable that Iran does not appear so far to have given these wide-ranging proposals the serious consideration they deserve.

The EU High Representative, Javier Solana, has remained in regular contact with Iranian negotiators, most recently through a meeting in Lisbon on 24 June. While the atmosphere of these discussions has been cordial and positive, they have not yet produced an indication of the serious engagement on the Iranian side which would allow substantive negotiations to commence. The Government strongly supports the continuing efforts of High Representative Solana. We will continue to encourage the Iranian authorities to engage constructively in discussions with him and to seize the opportunity available for a negotiated, diplomatic solution.