Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

It seems there is a very compelling case to include the definition. The notion that we might be a little bit ahead of the posse or more progressive or advanced — God forbid — is a very lame excuse for not doing something the international community is on the way to doing, that is, amending international treaties by consensus. If other countries, such as Brazil, can adopt the measure in their transpositional legislation, there is no reason we cannot do so and certainly no international prohibition on our being similarly progressive. Deputy Ó Snodaigh makes a very good case regarding the type of prohibited weaponry which, if used, would result in a crime against humanity according to most normal people's definition. The effects of the use of such weaponry are indiscriminate and long-lasting.

I do not understand why Ireland, when it signs international treaties prohibiting the weapons in question, is not progressive enough to state their use constitutes a crime and that those who use them should be held accountable before the International Criminal Court.

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