Control of Exports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 April 2011

Thursday, 21 April 2011

Ceisteanna (13)

Sandra McLellan

Ceist:

13 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his trade brief includes responsibility for the regulation of the licensing and monitoring of exports and brokering of military and dual-use goods from Ireland under the Control of Exports Act 2008; and if so, if he will ensure the annual reports due to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas under that Act are produced in a timely fashion in view of the fact that no annual report has yet emerged for the years 2008, 2009 or 2010. [8779/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

No change is planned to the responsibility for the regulation of the licensing and monitoring of exports and brokering of military and dual-use goods from Ireland under the Control of Exports Act 2008 which will remain with the current Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. Responsibility for publishing annual reports under the Control of Exports Act 2008 comes under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation. I understand that a report of activities under the Control of Exports Act 2008, for the period 2008 to 2009, has been prepared. The Minister will shortly consider the material with a view to its early publication. The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs in this area is to provide foreign policy advice on applications for export licences at the request of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. My Department also attends meetings of the EU Working Party on Conventional Arms Exports, where EU Member States exchange information and coordinate export licensing policies and practices.