Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether Ireland will propose specific verification, transparency or confidence building measures at the forthcoming Review Conferences of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in response to the expiration of the New START Treaty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17382/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland strongly believes that increased transparency by the nuclear-weapons states is necessary. This is both so that there can be accountability for their obligations to disarm under Art VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and as a confidence building measure. Ireland sees progress on this issue as a priority at the NPT Review Conference in April and May 2026 at the United Nations in New York.

Ireland will work to achieve this through engagement with a range of partners. Ireland continues to work with the European Union in calling for the establishment of a process within the cycle for reviewing the implementation of NPT obligations and commitments by States Parties, especially by all nuclear-weapon states, in particular with regard to article VI obligations on nuclear disarmament.

Ireland also works alongside our partners in the New Agenda Coalition (NAC); a cross-regional group of states composed of Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa. The group pushes for urgent progress on achieving nuclear disarmament and the implementation of Article VI. The NAC is expected to include proposals for enhanced transparency and verification measures from nuclear-weapon states.

Ireland also works actively within an ad-hoc group with New Zealand and Switzerland on pragmatic proposals for enhanced transparency from nuclear-weapon states through national reporting and in-person interactive dialogue.

Finally, we will continue to push for efforts on transparency and accountability alongside our fellow members of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the upcoming Review Conference in December.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Government intends to increase Ireland’s financial or technical support for international nuclear disarmament verification initiatives or multilateral disarmament bodies in response to the current weakening of bilateral arms control arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17383/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland is committed to upholding and strengthening the international nuclear disarmament architecture. Maintaining financial contributions for the functioning of these multilateral bodies is essential, particularly at a time when the international disarmament architecture is under critical strain.

Ireland continues to support the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through annual contributions to the Working Capital Fund, the Regular Budget, and the Technical Cooperation Fund of the IAEA.

Ireland also promotes nuclear disarmament initiatives at the United Nations. Ireland co-sponsored the Norwegian-Brazilian led resolution, entitled “Establishment of the Group of Scientific and Technical Experts on Nuclear Disarmament Verification” at the 2025 UN General Assembly. The resolution establishes a Group of Scientific and Technical Experts on Nuclear Disarmament Verification (GSTE-NDV) within the United Nations, to identify and consider scientific and technical challenges and possible approaches to nuclear disarmament verification in terms of tools, techniques, processes and procedures.

As part of our membership of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), Ireland supports work to develop verification measures pursuant to Article IV of that treaty, including through financial support to the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG). The SAG was a novel innovation of the TPNW and ensures deliberations of the Treaty are founded in real-world impact.

Additionally, we remain dedicated to financially supporting humanitarian disarmament instruments and a number of entities committed to researching disarmament, including the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Reaching Critical Will and Chatham House.