John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I compliment Deputy Timmins on this important motion. I urge the House to support the Cluster Munitions Bill 2008. While concerned citizens of the world work to pass legislation to limit the production, storage, export and use of various forms of cluster munitions, it is important that we in this country ensure we have no hand, act or part in the financing, manufacturing or transport of components for cluster bombs. To do so will also send a message to other countries that such weapons are an unacceptable part of any military arsenal.

Cluster munitions are widely stockpiled by more than 70 states and are documented to have caused significant civilian deaths and injuries and have frequently been used indiscriminately during conflicts. They have injured and killed thousands of innocent civilians in some 25 countries. From the first large-scale use of cluster bombs in Laos from 1964 to 1973 to the most recent use of cluster bombs in Lebanon in 2006, the results have remained the same.

Cluster munitions eject a large number of smaller bomblets. The most common types are intended to kill enemy personnel and destroy vehicles. Cluster bombs often miss their target and significant numbers of cluster bombs fail to function as designed. The area affected by a single cluster munition, known as its footprint, can be as large as two or three football fields. Because of the weapon's broad area of effect, it has often been documented as striking both civilian and military objects in the target area. The cluster bombs disperse over a wide area in ways that are not predictable. This characteristic of the weapon is particularly dangerous for civilians when cluster munitions are used in or near populated areas and has been documented by research reports from groups such as Human Rights Watch.

While all weapons are potentially dangerous to civilians, cluster bombs pose a particular threat to civilians as they have consistently left behind a large number of unexploded bomblets. These bomblets remain dangerous for decades after the end of a conflict. They are prone to indiscriminate use and they pose severe and lasting risks to civilians from unexploded submunitions. The bomblets may be duds, a significant percentage may not detonate as designed and in some cases the weapons are designed to detonate at a later stage. For example, after the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, UN experts estimated that as many as 1 million unexploded bomblets contaminate the hundreds of cluster munition strike sites in Lebanon. In all these cases, the surviving bomblets are live and can explode when handled, making them a serious threat to civilians entering the area. In effect, they function like landmines and in practice are more dangerous as they are more likely to kill than injure a casualty.

Cluster bombs injure and kill civilians long after wars are over. They cause significant humanitarian impact on the local civilian population. Bombs that fail to explode on impact are still lethal and often maim or kill adults and especially children going about their daily activities long after hostilities are past. Through more than 40 years of use, over 90% of known cluster bomb casualties are civilians. Up to 98% of 13,306 recorded cluster munitions casualties that are registered with Handicap International are civilians.

Belgium was the first country to issue a ban on the carrying, transportation, export, stockpiling, trade and production of cluster munitions. Austria followed suit in 2007. This Cluster Munitions Bill 2008 provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to stand with the ordinary citizens of the world community by doing our part to stop the manufacture, export and use of cluster bombs that are known to cause irreparable harm to civilian communities.

It is important that we unite with one voice to send a strong message to the rest of the world that Ireland wants a comprehensive ban treaty at the negotiations to take place in Dublin this May. I urge the Minister to consider this Bill seriously. I compliment Deputy Timmins and urge support for his important legislation, which would give a very clear message. We must stand united on this issue, which Deputy Timmins has correctly brought to the Chamber.

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