Disarmament and non-proliferation
Ireland has a proud history as one of the longest-standing advocates of nuclear disarmament.
In 1958, it introduced a series of resolutions at the UN General Assembly which came to be known as the “Irish Resolutions,” and which paved the way for the first international treaty on nuclear control, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Motivated by the immense human suffering which would arise from the detonation of a nuclear weapon, whether by accident, miscalculation or design, we are working for the complete elimination of these weapons.
Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty was opened for signatures in 1996, with the goal of halting the further development of nuclear weapons. The Treaty is a key step on the road to a world free of nuclear weapons, an aim which has long formed an important part of Irish foreign policy.
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO)
As the Treaty has not yet entered into force, a Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) currently operates in Vienna, until such time at the Organisation itself can be fully established. The Preparatory Commission has a current membership of 187 states, and is led by an Executive Secretary.
The Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO maintains a global network of monitoring stations and equipment, which is designed to detect a nuclear explosion carried out anywhere in the world (on land, in the air or underground). This plays a crucial role in promoting global transparency in the management and development of nuclear technology.
Other bodies dedicated to weapons control
In addition to the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO, Ireland is active in several other bodies dedicated to weapons control, monitoring and disarmament, located in Vienna: the Wassenaar Arrangement, Zangger Committee and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). We also work with the Vienna office of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).