DÁIL ÉIREANN

Sitting Time
15:10

Sitting Date
24/01/2012

Leaders' Questions

Deputy Finian McGrath: I join the Ceann Comhairle, the Taoiseach, and Deputy Ó Cuív and Adams in offering sympathy on behalf of the Technical Group to Deputy Martin and his family.

I wish to raise another serious matter today, the EU decision to ban oil imports from Iran, and the serious consequences for the Irish economy, energy costs, motorists and other consumers.  There are also implications for Ireland's foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East.  When was the decision on the oil ban made by the Government and did the Cabinet collectively decide on the ban?  Why did it make that decision?  Did the Taoiseach think about the consequences for Irish customers, motorists, the markets and, above all, Irish jobs?  Does the Taoiseach accept that the vast majority of the Irish people do not support this action, particularly the ending of the policy of independent neutrality as we are following Cameron, Sarkozy, Merkel and the US in sabre rattling?  Does the Taoiseach not think it a bit rich

Deputy Pat Rabbitte: Deputy McGrath is spreading his wings.  I did not take him for an Ahmadinejad man.

Deputy Finian McGrath: -----for nuclear powers like Britain, the US, Israel and France to lecture Iran about nuclear power and weapons when they are up to their necks in them?  Is it not time for common sense and dialogue between all the nations with nuclear weapons?  Does the Taoiseach accept that dialogue is the way forward rather than punishing the Irish people, consumers, motorists and the Iranian people?

The Taoiseach: Deputy McGrath was always a strong supporter of human rights and he has rightly raised questions here about the implications of activities by the Taliban, al-Qaeda and other groups.  This regards EU support for sanctions against Iran because of the scale of its activities with regard to nuclear power.  It is for that reason that the European Union, with the Tánaiste acting on behalf of the Irish Government, supports the sanctions being imposed on Iran in this case.

Reports from this morning - I have not heard reports from the last hour or so - indicated there was not much of a reaction because of the protection that exists in respect of the Strait of Hormuz by an American fleet and others.  If this sanction regime continued for an extended period, with a drop in oil supplies, prices would rise not just in Ireland but everywhere else.  This is a serious matter of an expansion in a nuclear programme by Iran, and sanctions have been extended against that country as a result.  The European Union strongly supports that.  I hope there will not be any catastrophic consequences in that region, and oil is important to the economies in western Europe and other countries.
End of Take
For that reason there is a belief that there is sufficient capacity to ensure that the straits are kept opened for traffic to countries in the West, including this country.

Deputy Finian McGrath: I thank the Taoiseach for his response.  The Government does not really see the downside of the oil sanction.  One loses the moral argument when there is silence from the Government and the Labour Party on other nuclear powers that exist in the world.  The Government seems to be targeting one country above others.

Deputies: Hear, hear.

Deputy Finian McGrath: Oil and diesel are expensive enough, as those of us who drive diesel cars are aware.  Prices will go through the roof as a result of the Taoiseach's actions.  That means higher costs, fewer jobs and more grief for small Irish industries.  Why is the Taoiseach doing this?  Is it because some in the European Union want to have a go at Iran?

Did the Taoiseach hear David Horgan say this morning that Irish policy was mad?  I remind the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, that David Horgan is from Clontarf and he is experienced in the Middle East where he has done much work on the oil industry.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte: I knew there had to be a local angle.

Deputy Finian McGrath: He said the Minister's policy is mad and off the rails because he does not know what is happening on the ground.

I urge the Taoiseach to think again, to reverse the policy decision, thus avoiding damaging this country's reputation as an independent broker and getting dialogue going with Iran.  Let us all work together to end the nuclear arms industry.

Let us remember family members and friends that served in the United Nations in the Middle East who have always acted impartially and fairly and earned respect as people from an independent country not involved in colonialism.  Let us stop tipping the cap to the European Union or the United States on these important foreign policy matters.

The Taoiseach: I notice that the Deputy blamed the situation on the actions of the Government.  If the Government were as powerful as he said, then we would probably have been able to deal with the troika and many other issues effectively.  In the meantime, I remind Deputy McGrath that approximately 6% of our oil comes from Iran.  The matter is serious and has global implications.  Deputy McGrath raised the Clontarf angle.  We got a result for him in respect of the sea wall some time ago.

Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That was me.

Deputy Finian McGrath: The people spoke on that issue.

The Taoiseach: I hope that pragmatism and common sense will result in Iran adhering to the conditions in respect of the nuclear proliferation programme in which it is now involved.  I hope also that the sanctions imposed will have the desired effect and that countries can continue with their business in commerce and trade with what is fundamentally a critical supply.  I hope the support given by the European Union to the sanctions will result in Iran doing what it should do and not anything that would have catastrophic consequences in that part of the Middle East.