Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Eamon Gilmore.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Government, together with the US, EU and other international partners such as China and
Russia, is extremely concerned about the findings of this report. T he US Director of National
Intelligence on 31 January stated that “Iran has the scientific, technical, and industrial capacity
to eventually produce nuclear weapons, making the central issue its political will to do so.”
Given the lack of any indication from Iran that it is as yet ready to comprehensively address
these concerns, the international community continues to pursue a twin-track approach of
sanctions and dialogue. In his remarks on 31 January, the US Director of National Intelligence
also noted that Iran’s “cost-benefit” approach to nuclear decision-making provides the international
community with opportunities to influence Tehran. The EU, US and Canada, with the
support of other international partners, have introduced further restrictive measures against
Iran following the IAEA report in the hope that these will bring the Iranian authorities back
to the negotiating table soon to address comprehensively the widespread international concerns,
as set out in numerous UN Security Council and IAEA Resolutions, regarding possible
military dimensions to its nuclear programme. The international community, including Ireland,
the EU and the US, is united in the view that sanctions must be maintained until Iran does so.
117. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Trade if there are any circumstances in which Ireland would support military action against
Iran because of its nuclear activities. [7612/12]
118. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Trade if there are any circumstances in which Ireland would grant the US or other NATO
countries the use of Shannon Airport to facilitate military action against Iran because of its
nuclear activities. [7613/12]
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): I propose
to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.
It is the firm conviction of this Government, and its EU partners, that the grave and valid
concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme must be resolved through diplomatic negotiations
alone and by no other means.
The E3+3, comprising Germany, France and the UK together with the US, Russia and China,
represents the international community in negotiations with Iran. I fully support the efforts of
the EU’s High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the E3+3 and it is deeply regrettable
that Iran’s authorities have yet to respond to her letter of October 2011 calling for a
resumption of talks.
In response to the failure on the part of Iran to address the international community’s concerns
following the publication of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s latest report on
the Iran nuclear issue on 8 November 2011, the EU has implemented two further rounds of
sanctions against Iran which were approved by the Foreign Affairs Council at its meetings on
1 December and 23 January. The US, UK and Canada have also implemented further tough
bilateral sanctions against Iran, in response to the IAEA report. The aim of all these measures
is to persuade Iran to return to the negotiating table so that the issues raised in the IAEA
report and in repeated UN Security Council and IAEA Resolutions can be addressed.
It is the earnest hope of this Government, as well as its EU, US and international partners,
that productive negotiations with Iran will restart soon to address comprehensively all the many
serious issues relating to its nuclear programme, including its possible military dimensions.
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