Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2024
76. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 8 February 2024, the number of dual-use export licence applications in respect of end-users in Israel approved by his Department since 7 October 2023; the value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16847/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of Dual-Use goods. Controls on the export of Dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items.
Dual-use items are products and components, including software and technology, that can be used for both civil and military applications. The bulk of Dual-use exports from Ireland are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software (networking, data storage, cybersecurity etc). They are categorised as Dual-use items as a consequence of fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes.
My Department has safeguards built into the licensing system which enable robust checks to ensure, as far as possible, that the item to be exported will be used by the stated end –user for the stated end-use and will not be used for illicit purposes.
As part of their assessment, my officials seek the views of the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of all applications for export licences, including those destined for Israeli end users. Both my own Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs review all dual-use export licence applications against the eight assessment criteria set out in Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP – including “Respect for human rights in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country of international humanitarian law” and "Internal situation in the country of final destination, as a function of the existence of tensions or armed conflicts". Any observations which may arise from this examination are considered in the final assessment of any licence application.
In the period 7 October to date, my Department has issued eight individual dual-use export licences with a value of €32.1 million to end users in Israel.
