Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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We will move on to the fourth matter on our agenda, the arms trade treaty. The joint committee agreed last week to have a short discussion on this treaty. The recent adoption of the treaty by the UN General Assembly was a significant event, coming as it did after almost seven years of preparatory talks and two UN conferences. Ireland is a strong proponent of the treaty and was a co-sponsor of the resolution that resulted in its adoption. I understand the Government intends to press strongly for its early entry into force. Members of the committee have watched the adoption process keenly and would like the opportunity today to make some brief comments. Senator Walsh was at the meeting in New York and I invite him to speak briefly on this.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I attended the conference the first week when the delegates were trying to get consensus, which was achieved last July. I would like to acknowledge that almost 18 months ago many members here, and over 60 of our colleagues in the House, signed a declaration calling on the UN to adopt the arms trade treaty. This has now happened and I acknowledge the support of the Tánaiste and the Department of Foreign Affairs and our staff at the UN. I had a meeting with Ambassador Anne Anderson, Ireland's ambassador to the UN, and her officials who were directly involved in the discussions and negotiations. They were very supportive and watched carefully to ensure the arms trade treaty was not diluted during the consensus period.

As a consequence of the treaty not being agreed unanimously, it was put to a vote at the UN, where there were 154 votes in favour of it. Approximately 23 or 24 countries abstained from the vote and three countries voted against it, Syria, North Korea and Iran. I have raised the issue of Iran's vote against it with the Iranian ambassador. It is significant that only those three countries voted against it. However, there are issues in that some countries, such as China and Russia, which are significant arms exporters, abstained. On 3 June 2013, the treaty will be open for ratification at the UN and it is intended Ireland will be one of the first signatories to it. Over 50 signatories must be obtained before the treaty comes into effect. The more countries that sign up to it, the better it is and the more force the treaty will have.

Hopefully, Ireland will continue to play the constructive role it has played. All Members of the Houses and this committee should give the treaty our full backing.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I am agog at the knowledge of the Senator and his ability to go to these meetings.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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It is the Upper House.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Exactly.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I cannot add any more to it. Is it not a wonderful argument for maintaining the Upper House that it has people who have access to these places?

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Senator Walsh should make that argument somewhere else.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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Parliamentarians for Global Action, of which I believe Deputy Byrne is a member, has been proactive on this subject and has played a significant role internationally in this regard. It is now organising regional seminars in various areas of the world to get countries to sign up to it. Once we sign up, we will then have to endorse it in our legislation and that will give it effect. Obviously, it matters more for countries that are exporters of arms. The conflict in Syria is a prime example of what happens when agreements are not adhered to and the arms trade is unregulated. That is part of the problem there. It is the same in other areas of conflict.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Do members agree on that? Agreed.