Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

——the modus operandi by which it was achieved is, by definition, deserving of commendation. Consider the consequences if, as a Minister, I agreed with ten other Ministers on the standard to be set and two or three of the countries, for example, had a difficultly. In the case of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, intervened personally to enable the United Kingdom to agree to the convention. I am not so sure countries would be so willing to agree if they found out the following month that those states with which they were agreeing took a different approach to them, thus putting them under more pressure. If one adopted a collegial approach but then adopted a new approach on reaching agreement, parties to the agreement would feel "once bitten, twice shy" in respect of engaging with one again. One can argue the point both ways; one can be in splendid isolation for 20 years by adopting a certain view on a matter or one can seek to create a standard. The ultimate success of the convention will depend on the stigmatisation of the weapons. The convention creates the momentum for that stigmatisation, such that even those who have not signed up to it will be dissuaded from using the weapons.

There is a difference between an anti-handling device and an anti-personnel mine. I recognise it, although I am not a military expert. Those who worked on the convention made this distinction. In the Bill, we are remaining faithful to the definitions agreed and on which we sought agreement while chairing the convention process. I would not be disposed to straying from what we signed up to in a bona fide way.

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