Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Import Duties.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

161 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the regulation suspending import duties on certain weapons and military equipment adopted by the Council on 21 January 2003 was adopted without debate and when this proposal was debated at Council level; the elements in the final regulation which were amended compared to the proposal submitted by the Commission in 1988; if the provisions contained in the original Commission proposal providing for a temporary suspension were retained in the adopted regulation; if not, the reasons therefor; if she has an estimation of the amount of duty that will be foregone here; if she has an estimation of the impact of this proposal on the production of weapons or military equipment or dual use goods here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11947/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. M. Ahern)

I understand that the original 1988 Commission proposal for a regulation referred to by the Deputy did not, at that time, have sufficient support for adoption within Council. I also understand that, at the request of some member states, the proposal was reactivated in early 2002. The subsequent adoption of a regulation, without debate at Council in January 2003, followed a decision by the Presidency of the Council to place it on the Council agenda. This was on the basis that qualified majority support for the text proposed by the Presidency had been signalled during discussions at official level.

The main differentiating elements between the text of the proposal adopted by Council and the original Commission proposal are a narrowing of the scope of the end-users that can benefit from duty free third country imports and a broadening of the scope of products and components covered by the regulation. While an estimation of the duty foregone is not available, the Commission is to monitor the financial impact of the regulation. In terms of the impact on Irish industry, I understand that industry was consulted by my Department and did not indicate any concerns.