Written answers

Thursday, 27 September 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

International Agreements

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position on the US/India Nuclear Agreement as this currently stands; the discussions that have taken place recently on this agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21318/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In July 2005, President Bush and Prime Minister Singh agreed to establish a new strategic partnership between their two countries. One element of that partnership was to be a proposed agreement on civil nuclear cooperation. In March 2006, the two leaders announced that broad agreement on the elements of a deal on the nuclear issue had been reached. In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act. In July 2007, negotiations on a formal bilateral agreement were concluded.

Further steps remain before civil nuclear cooperation can commence between the US and India, including the negotiation by India of a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a decision in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to exempt India from its export guidelines, and final approval of the US-India bilateral agreement by the US Congress.

We have been very closely following developments on the US-India deal, and have had useful contacts with both the US and India on the issue. A number of separate discussions on the proposed agreement have been held at the NSG since March 2006, most recently in mid-September, and Ireland has played a leading role, along with several other like-minded countries, in seeking to clarify the complex issues involved. In the course of all discussions, Ireland has consistently emphasised our deep-rooted commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and our concerns about the potential impact of the US-India deal on the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime.

Before formal consideration in the NSG, India must negotiate a safeguards agreement with the IAEA and this must be approved by the IAEA Board of Governors. Our current sense is that the NSG will not be asked to consider any proposal in the matter before the end of this year.

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