Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 5

Written Answers. - Landmines Ban.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

36 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current position among signatories to the UN Inhumane Weapons Convention regarding a world-wide ban on landmines; if he intends following the lead set by Belgium by introducing legislation banning landmines; if he would agree that such legislation would strengthen Ireland's position in calling for an international ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18294/95]

Patrick J. Morley

Ceist:

37 Mr. Morley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take a lead role by introducing legislation to ban the manufacture, sale, export and stockpiling of all types of landmines; and if he will work towards encouraging a similar outright world-wide ban. [18305/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 37 together.

Ireland was an original signatory and is one of the 49 states which have ratified the Inhumane Weapons Convention. In this context, Ireland has taken a leading role in efforts to strengthen international restrictions on landmines and in particular to move towards the elimination of anti-personnel landmines which have caused civilian suffering on a huge scale. I drew particular attention to this objective in my statement on 27 September in the General Debate at the UN General Assembly.

Ireland's role in contributing to international action against the scourge of landmines, particularly anti-personnel landmines, was exemplified further in our participation in the Vienna Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, which met from 25 September to 13 October. The conference engaged in detailed discussions with the aim of elaborating a strengthened Protocol to the Convention, which would enshrine further restrictions on landmines.

Some progress was made during the conference towards agreement on practical steps to reduce the negative impact of landmines on civilians and facilitate the task of mine clearance in the wake of conflicts. However, the substantive positions of States Parties have not yet converged sufficiently to permit consensus on a strengthened Protocol. The Review Conference will therefore resume its work in January and again in April-May 1996. As a member of EU Troika from 1 January, Ireland will be closely involved in requests to third countries to work for and support a successful outcome to the Review Conference.

While I understand the concerns of the Deputies, I do not think it would be either appropriate or warranted for the Government to introduce legislation to ban the manufacture, sale, export, and stockpiling of landmines in Ireland. Importantly, Ireland has no armaments industry and our forward role on the landmines question is fully appreciated in the internatioinal community.

Furthermore, the example of Belgian legislation, to which the Deputy refers, is not in my view applicable to the situation here: Belgium was formerly a substantial producer of landmines whereas Ireland does not manufacture or stockpile any form of landmine and any application for a licence to export landmines from Ireland would be refused.

The Government's priority is to continue to work in a realistic and focused way, in the multilateral fora open to us, for effective international action against landmines and, as a priority, for the objective of a total ban on anti-personnel landmines.