Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate that arms exports is an issue for the independent state. Our main effort is towards bringing about a peace agreement in Yemen. That is what we have been working on consistently. Along with the EU and the UN, Ireland believes that is the only way to bring about a long-term, sustainable improvement in the situation of Yemen. We fully support, therefore, the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, to broker an agreement. It is important that we put our effort into that solution. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been in contact as recently as today with the Saudi Arabian Minister. We will make all efforts in that regard to bring about a viable peaceful solution. However, the issue of arms is an independent competence, not an EU-level competence. It is an individual competence for the member state.

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