Vol. 453 No. 2
5 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Defence the companies from which the Defence Forces have purchased equipment in each of the years 1990 to 1994; the companies, if any, that are engaged in the manufacture of landmines; the proposals, if any, he has to cease procuring from companies engaged in the manufacture of landmines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9043/95]
Ireland does not manufacture conventional or other weapons. When required by the Defence Forces such equipment has to be purchased from sources abroad. Contracts are awarded on the basis of competitive tendering. It is not the practice, for security reasons, to release the names of companies with which the Department has placed contracts for defensive equipment. A small quantity of anti-personnel mines, most of which were of a non-explosive type, was acquired by the Department of Defence once in the past five years. Their availability to the Defence Forces for training and familiarisation is essential in the context of overseas duties with the United Nations where military personnel may be called upon to locate and render harmless anti-personnel or other types of mines.
I refer the Deputy to the replies to parliamentary questions on 9 and 10 May 1995 by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in which he outlined the action being taken at international level in relation to anti-personnel landmines.
I am heartened by the Minister's reply and glad to hear that the only reason landmines were purchased by the Irish Government was for familiarisation in relation to overseas work we undertake. I understand that the Minister cannot release the names of companies for security reasons. However, I urge him in his capacity as Minister for Defence, to ensure that Ireland does not contribute to companies that manufacture landmines because, whatever glossy name is put on them, they have the most long lasting mutilating effects in countries where there has been conflict. The Pax Christi figures must have horrified everyone.
I understand the Deputy's perspective. Recently we signed an agreement banning the use of those diabolical weapons. It would, therefore, be inconsistent if we supported their use in any way. There is a potential difficulty in that international or multinationals supplying arms might, conceivably, have a subsidiary manufacturing landmines, of which we would be unaware. To the extent that we are aware, we would not deal with a company promoting the sale of landmines.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Recognising that Ireland has now signed the UN inhumane weapons convention, does the Minister think it appropriate to bring our neighbours in the EU up-to-date on our feelings, as Belgium ceased production and export of landmines while at the same time the UK, France and Italy are going further down the road by developing what they call high-tech smart bombs which are another version of the same atrocious weapon? Will the Minister work further on amending the inhumane weapons convention so that it covers internal wars as, at the moment, it is only designed to cover wars between countries? I understand that 80 per cent of landmine injuries take place in internal wars such as in Cambodia.
I do not know whether the devices the Deputy describes are precisely the same as or more lethal than the landmines to which we are opposed so I cannot say what we might be able to do. For example, I am not certain whether any countries who signed the agreement have anything to do with the weapons just described.
Will the Minister follow up?
I will. I take very much to heart what the Deputy said about internal wars which are often the most horrific. I would support amendment of the Treaty to cover those. I wish to talk to the Tánaiste about whether it would be up to us to take the initiative.
