Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he endorses the international joint parliamentary statement for a Middle East free from nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, which, inter alia, supports the goal of a Middle East zone free from nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, affirms the role of the United Nations in assisting in the development of such a zone, emphasises the importance of comprehensive peace negotiations in the Middle East; commends the leadership of the United Nations Secretary General in advancing a five point proposal for nuclear disarmament, and calls on all Governments, especially those in the Middle East and the nuclear weapons States, to collaborate in good faith with the UN facilitator tasked to conduct consultations with the States of the region and undertake preparations for the convening of a conference to be attended by all States of the Middle East, on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17370/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Nuclear weapons pose an existential challenge to humanity and achieving their elimination is a fundamental global challenge. Nuclear non-proliferation and implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have been priorities of Irish Governments for over 50 years. We have a proud record of engagement and achievement in this critically important field and I am committed to maintaining this tradition.

The NPT, the primary international mechanism for controlling the spread of nuclear weapons, is reviewed every five years. The 2010 review conference adopted forward-looking action plans across all three pillars of the Treaty, disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Full implementation of these plans would considerably reinforce the non-proliferation regime and I intend to promote this, bilaterally and multilaterally, in the period ahead.

Ireland regards the establishment of a Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems as a particularly important objective. I am very pleased that at the 2010 NPT Review Conference, Ireland brokered agreement on a text which emphasised the importance of establishing such a zone and which set out a number of practical steps towards achieving this, including the convening of a conference in 2012. We are hopeful that all countries in the region will participate in the Conference and in the process going forward.

The position of the Government has been clear and consistent. The Middle East is an area of high tension which contains many regional conflicts and has seen many wars. The escalation of military capabilities to new heights in such a volatile region can only make the situation more dangerous. We support the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction, to include all states in the region.