Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, táim ag iarraidh buíochas a ghabháil leis an bpáirtí Pobal Roimh Bhrabús as an rún seo. Sinn Féin recognises the EU member states' right to provide military support to Ukraine, a nation that has been invaded. I am extremely concerned, however, about the use of the EU budget to subsidise the European arms industry. I oppose Irish taxpayers' money subsidising the arms industry. Most of all, I oppose Irish taxpayers' money subsidising companies that are arming Israel to carry out a genocide in Palestine.

The European arms industry provides Israel with about one third of its weapons. When the EU budget is spent on something, that means that all Irish people through our taxes are contributing. That means that today, Irish taxpayers are subsidising the weapons manufacturers in Europe. This is happening at a time when arms manufacturers are making bumper profits. The profits of some companies have soared by more than 100% since Israel launched its assault on Gaza. No official from the Departments of Defence or Finance or the European Commission could explain to the finance committee how this was compatible with Irish law. The Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008 bans investment of public moneys, direct or indirect, in a munitions company. The law is clear: any company engaged in the manufacture of munitions or components cannot receive public money. Yet Irish taxpayers are paying roughly €288 million into the European Defence Fund, a fund that subsidises private arms manufacturers. Ireland is contributing €12 million specifically to support the production of ammunition. Again, no official from the Departments of Defence or Finance or the European Commission could explain to the finance committee how this was compatible with Irish law. On top of this, no official could demonstrate any safeguard in place to show that Irish taxpayers' money was not going to weapons manufacturers that are arming Israel.

Senator Higgins and I specifically asked representatives from the Department of Defence if any companies that are supplying Israel with arms to carry out genocide are getting Irish taxpayers' money. They said they had no idea. I am asking the Minister of State today if he has any idea if that is the case. This is absolutely not acceptable. The Irish people want no hand or part in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people. We need this Government to respect our neutrality and our support for Palestine.

See this speech in context