Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
374. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the analysis that has been done on the Russian trade sanctions; and if he is satisfied they are working and not being circumvented in any way. [13999/24]
View answerEU sanctions are instruments used by the EU to bring about a change in policy or behaviour by the target country, entity or individual. EU Member States are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of EU sanctions, as well as for identifying breaches and imposing penalties. However, decisions on the adoption, renewal, or lifting of sanctions regimes are taken by the Council of the European Union. The Department of Foreign Affairs negotiates for Ireland at EU level on proposed sanctions packages.
Assessments of the effectiveness of current EU sanctions (including trade sanctions against Russia) are also made at EU level and new EU sanctions packages are brought forward if, and when, deemed necessary. The EU has adopted thirteen packages of sanctions in response to the situation in Ukraine since 23 February 2022.
My Department has specific responsibility for implementing those EU sanctions which relate to trade. The Department works closely with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to ensure comprehensive implementation of the trade measures.
In order to prevent circumvention, my Department conducts audits of both enterprises and academia, during which it carries out document checks on exports. The Department also issues notifications when there is an update to EU Regulations and provides information on the “European Commission Guidance for EU operators: Implementing enhanced due diligence to shield against Russia sanctions circumvention”. In addition, my Department also engages with representative bodies to ensure that they play a role in communicating the compliance requirements to their members.
My Department also attends a number of international enforcement meetings such as the Article 25 (Regulation (EU) 821/2021) Enforcement Coordination Mechanism, where enforcement officers from across the EU come together to discuss various elements of enforcement and also means of combatting circumvention and diversion. Trends are identified at these meetings so that officers can target possible routes of circumvention. The Department also works with Conflict Armament Research (CAR) which assesses battlefield finds on behalf of EU member states. If required, the Department can work with CAR and other member states to determine where the goods originate from and, where illegality is found, to take the requisite actions.
