Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 March 2026
7. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked 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]
View answerIreland 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.
