Vol. 526 No. 6
98 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will pursue any specific initiatives as members of the UN Security Council to impose restrictions on the armaments industry with a view to reducing the availability of arms in the conflict zones of the world. [26826/00]
The promotion and support of international efforts to secure appropriate safeguards on sales and transfers of armaments is a key priority of Irish foreign policy. We wish to end destabilising accumulations of arms which can increase the potential for violence in areas of tension. We are actively engaged on this issue in the EU context and wherever like-minded countries share this goal, particularly at the United Nations. In the run up to the United Nations conference on illicit trafficking in small arms in all its aspects, we participate actively in several fora which are setting ambitious goals for the conference.
The Security Council is concerned, in particular, with the prevention of conflict and the issue of the excessive or improper trade in arms is relevant in this context. Our approach, as a member of the council, will be informed by the policy that we are already following in this area.
Question No. 99 taken with Question No. 95.
