Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do share worries about the militarisation that is taking place in the Middle East. That is why we support the conference on a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in the Middle East which is due to take place in December. The conference facilitator, the Finnish Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Jaakko Laajava, has undertaken substantial consultations with all the states in the region in advance of convening the conference. These consultations are ongoing. It was Ireland that brokered the deal at the 2010 review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty which set out a number of practical steps to implement the 1995 resolution on a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in the Middle East. We are available and committed to assisting Mr. Laajava in any way we can in the lead up to and during the conference. The European Union will arrange a seminar in November as part of its activities in support of the conference, and Ireland will be represented and actively participate. There are European Union rules and a Common Position which define the rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment by member states. I expect all EU states will honour the terms of that Common Position.

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