Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019
67. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if applications for the export of arms or dual-use items to Saudi Arabia were refused between 2011 and 2017 on the basis of criterion No. 2 of Council common position 2008/944/CFSP; and if so, the number. [20564/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for administering controls on the export of Military equipment and Dual-Use items from Ireland. Military equipment is defined in the EU Common Military List. Dual-Use items are defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items.
All applications for export licences, for Military equipment and Dual-Use items, are subject to rigorous scrutiny by my officials on a case-by-case basis. Each application is reviewed against the eight risk assessment criteria set out in Article 2 of the European Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment.
The application is also reviewed against any EU Restrictive Measures (sanctions) that may be in place in respect of the destination country; for example, an arms embargo. Saudi Arabia is not currently subject to any EU sanctions.
My officials also seek observations from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on any foreign policy concerns, including human rights considerations, that may arise with the proposed export; on the country of destination; and on the end user.
No applications to export Military equipment to Saudi Arabia were refused by my Department during the period 2011-2013. No applications to export Military equipment to Saudi Arabia have been received since August 2013.
No applications to export Dual-Use items to Saudi Arabia were refused by my Department during the period 2011-2017. My Department refused 16 licence applications for Dual-Use exports to Saudi Arabia from January 2018 to date in 2019. Eleven of these refusals were based on Criterion 2 the Council Common Position, in addition to other considerations.
