Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that the Prohibition of Depleted Uranium Weapons Bill will be brought before Dáil Éireann as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16358/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland does not possess, and has never possessed, any weapons, armaments or ammunition containing depleted uranium. It is the firm policy of the Government that depleted uranium munitions will never be used by the Defence Forces. To date, the research carried out by recognised relevant international organisations, including by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has concluded that depleted uranium does not pose a significant radiological risk. These reports are readily available. Other research has consistently returned inconclusive results.

Ireland has voted in favour of resolutions on depleted uranium at the United Nations since 2007. These resolutions requested the UN Secretary-General to seek the views of member states and relevant international organisations on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium.

In consultation with the Department of Defence, Ireland provided a national report to the UN Secretary-General in 2009. This confirmed that while there is no practical method of testing people that may have been exposed to depleted uranium, thorough medical examinations are carried out on all Defence Forces personnel returning from deployment overseas. These include tests intended to detect signs of those disease processes most likely to arise in cases of contamination with depleted uranium. To date, no evidence of an unusual incidence of disease has been found.

There is at present no international framework or treaty concerning depleted uranium munitions (and therefore no internationally agreed definition or prohibition). To achieve political traction worldwide, and the momentum required for an international ban, a necessary first step would be to conclusively establish the negative impact of depleted uranium on human health and on the environment.

The Government is supportive of further study and research by relevant international organisations and the scientific community and does not believe that it would be appropriate to introduce legislation on depleted uranium weapons at this time. A number of like-minded partners, including Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain, have adopted a similar approach.