Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank members for their support for the motion. Deputy Smith suggested the imposition of a levy to generate resources in respect of implementation. That is a worthwhile proposal. A UN trust fund - UNSCAR - which is designed to facilitate implementation and provide help to NGOs which are involved in assistance programmes has been established. This could possibly be used for the purpose to which the Deputy refers.

Deputy Crowe referred to our EU partners. The treaty will require the approval of the Foreign Affairs Council because there are shared competences involved. There is already a European Union export control system in place and a common position arrived at in 2008 governs the export of military and technological equipment. The common position to which I refer is actually more stringent in nature that what is contained in the ATT. As a result of the fact that it is already in operation here, we do not need to introduce new legislation in order to give effect to this. Export shipments from Ireland mainly involve components such as the ball bearings - to which Deputy Durkan referred - electronic equipment, digital material and so on. In many cases, this is dual use material. What happens is that an exporter will apply to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which will then consult the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with regard to the country to which that exporter wishes to ship goods. If an issue arises in respect of human rights or whatever, we will make a judgment with regard to the use to which the relevant equipment is likely to be put and we may decide that a licence should not be issued. That is the system which is currently in place. The ATT places an obligation on countries involved in importing goods.

Deputy Eric Byrne inquired about the countries which voted against the treaty. These were Iran, North Korea and Syria.

Deputy Durkan asked about the countries which have not signed up to the treaty. We are involved in a process here. This country has a long record of promoting disarmament over many decades. I acknowledge the role played by Frank Aiken in that regard in the 1950s. The process begins with the emergence of a UN treaty - in this case the ATT - and countries then sign it. The latter is their indication of support for the treaty, which they must then ratify. The treaty comes into effect when a certain threshold is reached. In this instance, the number is 50. When that number of states ratify the treaty, it will come into force 90 days later. It will then be a matter of trying to encourage the remaining countries involved to ratify it, those who have not yet done so to sign it and to implement it. The position with regard to the penalties and sanctions to be applied will evolve over time. Penalties and sanctions will probably be imposed on a case-by-case basis.

I was asked if the treaty explicitly covers components. It does not do so but the European Union export control system makes provision in that regard. The treaty does not cover ammunition. However, Ireland, along with the majority of other states, did seek to have ammunition included within the scope of the treaty.

As Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan stated, the treaty is not perfect. However, it represents both a start and progress. The international community has placed major emphasis on nuclear disarmament and there have been discussions in recent times on the problem of chemical weapons. Much of the suffering and grief that occurs across the globe is largely as a result of the sale of smaller arms and this treaty represents the start of a process to try to control and regulate the trade in this regard. There is still a long way to go in terms of having the treaty implemented but we have made a positive start. We sought the putting in place of a treaty of this nature and I am of the view that it represents progress.