Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether, in light of Ireland’s policy of military neutrality and long standing leadership in nuclear disarmament, she has assessed the implications of the expiry of the New START Treaty for European security architecture and strategic stability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17379/26]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether Ireland will use its position within the European Union to advocate for a coordinated EU diplomatic initiative aimed at restoring legally binding and verifiable strategic arms control arrangements between nuclear weapons states following the expiration of the New START Treaty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17380/26]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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6. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether her Department has examined the potential impact of the expiry of the New START Treaty on Ireland’s national security interests, including risks associated with the erosion of verification mechanisms and transparency measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17381/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 5 and 6 together.

Ireland deeply regrets the expiry of the New START Treaty between the United States and Russia. Building on prior arms control treaties and agreements, the New START Treaty served an important stabilising role, as well as acting as a major confidence-building measure. Without such a bilateral agreement, there are no legal limits on nuclear weapons in place between Russia and the US, nor are there inspections or transparency provisions.

It remains in the interest of all States’ security, and the future of the NPT, that a successor treaty is established and that further reductions and limitations of deployed strategic nuclear arsenals are achieved. While not a substitute for nuclear disarmament – which we will continue to advocate for in line with our long established positions – bilateral agreements such as New START can greatly contribute to the prevention of nuclear war and complements disarmament and arms control efforts, through creating trust, confidence and predictability.

Recognising the potential global ramifications emerging from a lack of verification and transparency measures on nuclear arsenals, Ireland remains steadfast in supporting all efforts to work towards a successor treaty and calls for a return to full and mutual compliance with the limits set by the Treaty until a successor treaty is concluded. We urge Russia and the United States, as those with the largest arsenals, to spare no efforts in this regard, and call on all nuclear-weapon states to consider similar agreements.

With European Union partners, Ireland will continue to call for further reductions of nuclear arsenals, underlining the special responsibility of States with the largest nuclear arsenals. The EU has called for urgent work towards a successor agreement to New START and continues to encourage the United States and Russia to maintain the agreed limits on their nuclear arsenals, while equally urging China to contribute and engage actively and constructively.

Ireland stand ready to assist or facilitate dialogue to enable progress, remaining committed to diplomacy and multilateralism to achieve a nuclear weapon-free world. We remain dedicated to this goal in both our national capacity and as a member of the EU.