Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

We should avail of the five-year reviews to examine how the convention is working in new circumstances, how it can be improved and how we can attract new states to signing up to the principles of the convention. A group has been established within the Department, involving other State agencies and Departments, to examine these conventions. I welcome that participation. It is important that this structure produces proposals so that the political systems and Ministers can propose amendments to existing conventions or propose new conventions. I am highlighting the benefit of Ireland, as a small country in the EU that has proven its ability to punch above its weight and that is listened to, using its influence and membership to propose ideas to improve matters. Thankfully, we do not have a vested interest in this area.

While the Bill has extra-territorial application to citizens, members of the Defence Forces and Irish registered aeroplanes and ships, the Bill expressly precludes the transportation of biological warfare materials through Irish airspace. The weakness of this Bill is that it does not amount to a ban on transshipment or provide greater search and prosecution powers to those who may suspect biological weapons are being moved through Irish airspace or ports. This is a weakness I intend to raise on Committee Stage. I hope that something can be done about this through this debate. We often ignore the fact that our air space can be used for things with which we as a country do not agree. Therefore, we should make certain that we do not allow others to use it in such a way. I look forward to discussing that point further on Committee Stage to see whether there is anything we can do in that regard.

This is the type of legislation on which one could speak for a long time. Many of the points I wish to make, over and above what I have said, have been outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. I do not intend to delay the House by repeating what he has said.

Membership of the European Union is important. Thank goodness the modern generation in this country is moving on and that we are now in a position where we can think outside the box. As I said at the outset we should concentrate on how we can play a major role within the European Union in terms of foreign policy, security and defence and especially in the area of peacekeeping and peace making. We should avail of any opportunity through our membership of the European Union to improve on this or other conventions.

I thank the Minister for bringing forward the legislation. I look forward to perhaps trying to improve it, if that is possible. On the question of transhipment I raised earlier, I look forward to seeing if a provision on this can be included in the Bill on Committee Stage.

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