asked the Taoiseach if he will state the total value of any arms exported from Ireland in each of the last three years detailing (a) the nature of the arms, (b) their source in Ireland and (c) the country to which they were exported.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exports of Arms.
1.
The Official Export List under which exports are classified for statistical purposes does not contain a separate heading for arms as trade in these items is relatively insignificant. The information requested is, therefore, not available.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary mean to say that we may be exporting arms but that he does not know the amount of them?
There are two classifications in the Official List—(1) nonmilitary arms such as shotguns, truncheons and humane killers and (2) firearms of war. The first classification comes under the general heading of "Sports".
It is not sport to be——
The second classification is "Other Manufactured Articles". Separate figures are not available for the value of any arms of that kind.
What is the value of all types of arms being exported—shot-guns, war weapons and all others?
I have no information.
The Parliamentary Secretary said he had. What is the heading?
I said separate headings are not available.
We may be exporting arms to Rhodesia, Biafra and other places in Africa and America but we do not know: is this so?
It is not so. The Deputy has tabled another question on the export of arms. I shall answer that question when it is reached.
On behalf of the Taoiseach.
If Deputy Corish will put down a question——
I have asked it.
——asking if there are any exports to these areas he has mentioned—Rhodesia, Biafra——
Next question.