Statement by Minister Coveney to mark 77th anniversary of atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

"Today, we commemorate all those who lost their lives in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We pay tribute to the dignity, courage and resilience of those who survived. We also recall the other victims and survivors of thousands of nuclear tests that occurred in the second half of the 20th century.

"Seventy-seven years after the utter destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world is facing heightened nuclear danger. Russia has threatened use of nuclear weapons in the conduct of its war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s nuclear rhetoric, as well as its reckless military actions in and near civilian nuclear facilities, are wholly unacceptable. The risks posed by these actions serve as an urgent reminder that the lack of progress on nuclear disarmament undermines global security.

"Despite the current difficult context, it is vital that countries meeting in the framework of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, agree concrete actions on nuclear disarmament, including urgent action to reduce nuclear risks.

"We can delay no longer. These indiscriminate weapons, which threaten the safety of humanity and our planet, must be put beyond use. Ireland is ready to work with all states to progress this goal."

Notes

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entered into force in 1970. It is the main international mechanism for controlling the spread of nuclear weapons, and contains the only multilateral commitment to nuclear disarmament in the text of a treaty by the five nuclear-weapon States - the US, UK, France, Russia and China. The Treaty has its origins in a number of resolutions presented by Ireland to the General Assembly from 1958 – 1961.

This month, representatives of 191 governments including Ireland, meet in New York to review the Treaty’s implementation and chart the course for the way forward.

This week, Minister Hildegarde Naughton delivered Ireland’s national statement to the NPT Review Conference.

Hiroshima Day will be marked on Saturday 6 August with an annual ceremony organised by civil society in Merrion Square, Dublin.