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