Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2004
82 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government’s position on the recommendations resulting from the Forfás review of the export control system; and if the Government is willing to schedule a parliamentary debate in Government time on the issue of Irish involvement in the arms trade. [23149/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe independent review of our export control system was published in July. The review proposes a number of areas in which the Irish export licensing system can be modernised and strengthened. These include the introduction of new primary legislation to govern Irish military exports, and the filling of a number of gaps in the Irish regime as well as enhanced co-operation between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the other agencies with a role in the area, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Customs and Excise. Better use of new technology is proposed that would include the introduction of web-based export licence applications.
Greater preventative enforcement can be achieved through information provision to all actual and potential exporters about the requirements of export licences, particularly in the case of dual-use goods where exporters might be unaware of their obligations. It is proposed that relevant exporters have good in-company compliance procedures rather than detailed item auditing by the authorities. The publication of an annual report on export licensing activity is recommended, including an aggregate value of military exports, with this annual report laid before the Oireachtas.
I welcome the constructive proposals contained in the report. Consideration and implementation of the report's recommendations is being addressed within the framework of an inter-agency group, chaired by Forfás, involving the Departments of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, together with the Revenue Commissioners.
The scheduling of a parliamentary debate in the Houses of the Oireachtas is a matter for the Whip's office to agree with the Government in regard to the scheduling of Government time in the Oireachtas, and is not a matter for the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment to decide.
