Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 4

Written Answers. - Military Export Licences.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

52 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of military export licences issued by her Department during 1998 and the comparable figures for 1997; the main types of goods in respect of which licences were issued; the procedures in place to ensure that these goods do not go to repressive regimes which may be responsible for human rights abuses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4136/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt).

My Department issued 381 military export licences during 1998 and 433 during 1997 as follows:

Licences Issued

Type of Goods	1997	1998
Shotguns	332	299
Ammunition	39	31
Aircraft related equipment	38	25
Fire control equipment	13	14
Remote controlled vehicles and accessories	4	5
Smooth bore weapons	2	2
Explosives and detonators	3	1
Imaging or countermeasure equipment	2	1
Military vehicles	–	1
Large calibre armaments	–	1
Forgings, castings and semi-finished products	–	1

The control of military items is governed by the Control of Exports Act, 1983, and the list of military items covered is set out in the Control of Exports Order, 1996. Apart from applications to export shotguns, all military licences applications submitted to the Department must be accompanied by an end-use certificate. When examining these export licence applications, the Department takes account of several factors such as the description of the goods, end-use and the end-user of the goods, the reputation of the exporter, information made available arising from Ireland's participation in EU and other international export control regimes and obligations arising under sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council or agreed in other international fora. The advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs is also sought.

In regard to the export of shotguns, my Department has drafted an Order, the objective of which is to have them removed from the Control of Exports Order, 1996, in respect of intra-community transfers and to reduce the level of control for exports to third countries. This has been agreed with the Deaprtment of Justice, Equality and Law Reform as it is considered that adequate control on the export of shotguns is already provided for by that Department and the Garda Síochána. When this is introduced, it should dramatically reduce the number of military licences granted by my Department.

My Department's policy and procedures in relation to the export of military goods are publicly available via,inter alia,“Export Controls Made Easy” booklet, published by my Department; my Department's Freedom of Information Guide; the Export Licensing Unit's website (http://www.irlgov.ie/entemp/export). The website includes statistics on licences issued and answers to frequently asked questions on policy issues; and the Adjournment debate concerning the granting of military licences of 3 December 1996.