Vol. 474 No. 2
37 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the granting of licences for the export of military goods to countries which do not fall within the common criteria for arms exports agreed by the EU. [25270/96]
All applications for licences for the export of military goods from this country are carefully scrutinised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and are only approved if they are fully compatible with the common criteria agreed by the EU. As recently as 3 December 1996 in response to a debate on the adjournment as reported at columns 551-554, Volume 472, No. 3, of the Official Report, I gave a full outline of the current criteria and procedures for the granting of licences for the export of military goods and would refer the Deputy to the record of the House. By reason of the above I do not consider it necessary to set up an inquiry on this issue.
