The Whole Question on Chemical Weapons and Biological Weapons.

Today, the use of chemical weapons and biological weapons has been regarded as an international taboo. The use of chemical weapons is inhumane and poses detrimental health risks to any and all affected, regardless if they were the intended target.  The lack of capability to control the spread of these chemicals and biological/bacteriological organisms is a severe risk to any and all populations within the surrounding areas.  The effects of these weapons will result in mass civilian casualties and will cause great damage to local environments and ecosystems.  The Ireland is firmly resolved to honor and uphold its commitments made to the Geneva Protocol, the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC), drafted in 1972, and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC), drafted 1992.  The Ireland applauds the steps taken in United Nations (UN) Resolutions A/RES/67/54, A/RES/66/65, A/RES/65/57, and A/RES/62/23, which discuss the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and the use of chemical weapons, all of which highlight the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling, and the use of biological weapons.  The Ireland urges all nations to disarm their chemical weapons in order to uphold peace and security in the world.  The Ireland proposes a three point plan titled ACT (Accountability, Cooperation, and Transparency).  It is the responsibility of all member states of the NPT to maintain ACCOUNTABILITY of their chemical and biological materials in order to prevent illicit sale and trade in order to prevent any potential non-state actors from acquiring chemical and biological weapons or materials.  The COOPERATION between member states, as well as various international agencies, such as the CWC, BWC, and other UN special organizations is essential in order to share intelligence between all member states about potential illicit trafficking, trade, or use of chemical and biological materials or weapons.  Last, the promotion of cooperation among UN Member States through regional collaborative work in order to ensure TRANSPARENCY of the trade and trafficking of chemical and biological materials, especially in the form of dialogue and collective responsibility. The Ireland is fully dedicated to the disarmament and the destruction of stockpiles of all chemical weapons, biological/toxin weapons, and all other forms of weapons of mass destruction.

 

The Role of Science and Technology in the Context of International Security and Disarmament

Ireland is deeply committed to developing the peaceful uses of Science and Technology; Ireland fully understands how science and technology could be used in two different aspects, good and peaceful or bad and destructive. Ireland’s action is directed towards preventing the proliferation of systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. In the absence of an international treaty governing the development or deployment of ballistic missiles, Ireland has always supported the idea of a multilateral political instrument to prevent the proliferation of such delivery systems. In pursuit of this aim, Ireland was instrumental in drawing up the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC) adopted in 2002. The HCOC introduces confidence-building and transparency measures; under the terms of the Code, signatory States undertake to provide pre-launch notifications of all space-launch vehicle and ballistic missile launches in order to avoid any confusion on the part of other signatory States as to their intentions. The Code, for which Austria serves as the point of contact and which now has over 130 signatory States, is one of the only international instruments available to curb ballistic missile proliferation. It has the support of the United Nations, expressed through the adoption of resolutions (in 2005 and 2008 in particular). The European Union provided significant support for implementation of the Code in the form of a Council decision of 23 July 2012 in support of ballistic missile non-proliferation. Ireland has also put forward concrete proposals for a treaty banning short and medium range ground-to-ground missiles. This position was taken up by the European Union in its 2009 Action Plan as part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty (NPT) review process. Ireland is also represented in all the international fora in which the issue of ballistic missiles is addressed (in the United Nations, in particular).Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is a priority for Ireland, both nationally and internationally, pursued through three main lines of action; actions channeled through multilateral mechanisms and constant support for efforts to implement and, where necessary, reinforce multilateral treaties and agreements on non-proliferation and disarmament (NPT, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, definition of a European Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.)

 

Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security

 

Like the other nations, the Republic of Ireland has been greatly shocked and concerned by the increasing number of morally reprehensible terrorist attacks that have occurred around the world, resulting from the lack of information-sharing between nations. This is why the Republic of Ireland firmly argues that developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of security as needed. Taking top priority is the ability for information sharing and increased telecommunications between the nations must increase for the sake of international security and stability. The Ireland government furthermore believes that each country has a responsibility to share information with other countries to promote a sense of peaceful understanding and shared interest between them. Only in increasing the information sharing and increasing telecommunications can nations hope to protect themselves and the international regime. Further developments aside from information sharing, such as more sophisticated information and telecommunication technologies, are needed before any country is in a position to feel the is enough being done in the context of international security. The Republic of Ireland calls upon every nation to engage in an international information network which would encourage the promotion of information sharing and greatly decrease the incidents involving terrorism that catch many countries off-guard. Only through an increase in this information sharing can countries be internationally secure, stable and protected.

Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of

International Security.

 

The Republic of Ireland’s interim government has taken necessary steps toward economic rehabilitation. The national infrastructure–notably a communications system that was destroyed by war and neglect–is being reconstructed. In 1987 external support through outside sources has allowed Ireland to negotiate a policy framework with the IMF and the World Bank. Ireland assembled economic policies resulting in designs to rehabilitate infrastructure. As this information technology process develops, Ireland is aware of the Information and telecommunications context of International Security. Referring to the response to the General Assembly resolution (53/70) on  “Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security”,

 

There was agreement that: The information infrastructures on which all states are coming to rely for civil, economic and military purposes are becoming more vulnerable and states need to make greater efforts domestically (in cooperation with the private sector) to improve information assurance. Due to the transnational nature of the problem, states need to improve dialogue and co-operation in promoting more trustworthy systems and in securing their information infrastructures against vandalism, crime and terrorism (3).

There are clear practical measures that can be implemented to improve the security of the Global Information Infrastructure. These could be pursued in national, bilateral and multilateral arenas.  Key measures include: i) building more trustworthy systems using new technologies and improved standards; ii) passing and enforcing improved legislation on information crime – though with due regard for civil liberties and cultural differences; iii) improving international co-operation in network anomaly monitoring, trace back and investigation of computer intrusions; iv) improving education and ethics of users of ICT in order to make information assurance a societal responsibility.  Existing conventions and legal instruments on crime and terrorism (as well as standards, telecommunications procedures, etc) provide a basis from which to work; existing multilateral forums provide mechanisms that can be built upon.  New mechanisms may need to be created, or evolved from existing mechanisms, to take forward necessary steps, notably intrusion monitoring and investigation (4).

It is clear to the governing body of Ireland that to develop security for its population and to ensure their safety form terrorist activity, it is necessary to secure all means of communication in an effort to defensively take the offensive. As the global community takes shape Ireland wishes to enter the community of nations supporting the sharing of information between allied nations in the fight and destruction of terrorism and those who actively participate. That dialogue between multilateral and bilateral arenas move forward and the development of communications standards be implemented to detour active terrorist threats. Consequently the safety of state populations will result in the development of global harmony through such an endeavor. The Republic of Ireland embraces this vision and invites other nations to unite in a stance for long term peace among all nations and protecting the liberties of the citizens of the world.