John Bruton
Question:10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach his views on whether defence related industries should be fully integrated into the disciplines of the European internal market.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Common Security Proposals.
Economic and technological co-operation in the armaments field, which could have implications for Article 223 of the Treaty of Rome, is one of the matters which the Conclusions of the Rome II European Council listed for consideration as regards common security by the Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union. The Conference is at a relatively early stage and it would be premature to express a view of the matter raised by the Deputy, since there has not yet been in-depth discussion on relevant proposals, some of which have been tabled quite recently.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the Irish Government have a view on this subject on their own account?
Yes, we have and I expressed that view at the Rome Summit at which these matters were discussed. The Irish Government's primary interest in this area would be in regard to the control of the export of armaments. That is the question to which all of us should be addressing our minds in view of recent developments in different parts of the world, even in the Gulf. As I understand the situation, the principal suppliers of armaments to the Gulf area were the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. We will have to try to ensure, either through the Community by its own mechanisms or by the Community taking action at the UN, that we will have some sort of sensible and civilised regime in regard to the control of the export of armaments.
While one would wish to applaud and support what the Taoiseach has said in regard to arms exports, this is not what the question is about. The question concerns the opening up of defence industries to the disciplines of the European internal market, in particular, the provisions in regard to open tendering, public procurement, so that all Community countries would be entitled to compete. Would the Taoiseach agree that it would be in the interests of the Community that smaller countries be able to compete for contracts if such contracts are available elsewhere in the Community, and that there are Irish industries which could benefit from this? Does he agree, therefore, that Ireland should be of the view that the internal market disciplines should apply in respect of all aspects of industry?
As the Deputy knows, at present the position is governed by Article 223 of the Treaty which restricts the applicability of market disciplines to the arms industry in general. There is a wide range of approaches to this matter in the IGC at present. One of the proposals in that Article 223 should be abolished. There are other less sweeping changes proposed. This is a very fluid situation with different countries putting forward their own proposals. I want to say to the Deputy that we are not in that league and I hope we will never be armaments suppliers to the world at large. I would be inclined to confine Ireland's interest in the matter to being in conformity with our general approach to world affairs, namely, that we are in favour of world disarmament to the greatest extent possible.
Would the——
A final question, Deputy Bruton.
Would the Taoiseach agree that there is a number of Irish industries which are capable of supplying components which could be used either for a military or a non-military purpose? Given that that manufacturing capacity exists in this country and, regardless of whether we like it, the armaments industry does exist, there should be the possibility for Irish companies to tender for any contracts which are available anywhere in the Community in the interests of employment in this country. Would the Taoiseach agree with that proposition, or does he feel we should not have anything to do with any contract of that kind?
I hope we will never develop an armaments industry or get into the business of supplying armaments to anybody. There is, for instance, the electronics area——
Exactly.
——where one could supply sophisticated electronic equipment to an armaments industry.
Fire tenders?
Fire tenders have many uses. As far as we are in the fire tender business it is mainly to supply airports. It is likely that the outcome of the IGC will be a greater transparency in these areas and some more application of internal market disciplines to the armaments industry than exists at present.