I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together.
The European Commission is seeking to reverse the declining role of industry in Europe as a mechanism for growth and economic recovery. Increased industrial competitiveness can be a strong driver of growth and employment and is one of the stated objectives of European integration under the Lisbon Treaty.
The 2010 European Commission Communication "An integrated industrial policy for the globalisation era", a flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 strategy, sets out a strategy that aims to boost growth and jobs by maintaining and supporting a strong, diversified and competitive industrial base in Europe offering well-paid jobs while becoming more resource efficient.
The Commission’s initiative to strengthen the EU defence and security sector is one of several being explored under this drive to increase industrial competitiveness. The Commission has produced a report on this initiative which is due for consideration at the European Council in June 2015. The report has been presented to the Competitiveness Council which I attend. I continue to monitor any developments with the initiative.
The initiative seeks to strengthen the internal market for defence, to promote a more competitive defence industry and to foster synergies between civil and military research. It also seeks to explore options in other areas such as energy, space and dual-use capabilities.
Discussions to date have focussed on opportunities for enhancing research and development and industrial competitiveness. Research in this area provides indirect impacts in other sectors such as electronics, key enabling technologies, space and civil aviation.
Ireland purchases defence equipment and is an exporter of dual-use goods. Through Science Foundation Ireland my Department seeks to build and strengthen scientific and engineering research initiatives. This initiative to strengthen the internal market for defence and to foster synergies between civil and military research has potential to improve Ireland's competitiveness.
Ireland does not have a specialised Defence industry and there are no plans to develop one. However, jobs are sustained through the synergies that can be achieved from civil and military actors working together to support and create jobs and growth in our economy. Defence is a large industry sector within the EU employing directly or indirectly up to 1.4 million people across the Union with a turnover of €92 billion in 2012. As a key industry sector, the Commission has a role in applying internal market rules to the defence industry.
Troops on operations, including our own Defence Forces engaged on UN mandated operations, require effective force protection and defensive equipment. If the European Union is to be an effective security actor, it needs a defence industry which can deliver the necessary capabilities/equipment required for Common Security and Defence Policy missions, which is innovative, competitive and sustainable.
As a procurer of defence equipment for our Defence Forces, initiatives which deliver greater efficiency and reduce the cost of defensive equipment are of interest to Ireland.
The Deputy will be aware of the careful analysis undertaken by my Department of export licence applications. My Department considers all applications in the light of the spirit and objectives of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and requests the observations of the Department of Foreign and Affairs and Trade on all military licence applications.
Alongside this scrutiny of export licence applications, Ireland is at the forefront in promoting responsible exports of armaments and controlled materials not only by other Member States but internationally. We were one of the first countries to sign the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). This followed a decade of efforts to bring regulation to the global trade in conventional arms. Ireland, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, argued for a strong and robust ATT from the very beginning, working with other countries and with civil society to achieve that goal.
The treaty is the first legally binding instrument to regulate the international trade in conventional weapons. States which sign up to the Treaty are prohibited from exporting arms to countries if they know those weapons will be used to commit gross violations of human rights. It prohibits a State from authorising arms exports where it has knowledge that the weapons will be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 or other war crimes. It will also oblige States to minimise the risk that weapons would be diverted into the wrong hands or to the illicit market, and to adhere to robust, comprehensive and legally-binding standards.
This work, combined with input to sanctions related discussions in the area of arms embargoes that take place in the appropriate UN and EU fora, demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to ensure the safe sale and export of armaments.
