Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)

I respect the Minister of State's bona fides and I know she will get back to me. In 2023, our exports of dual-use goods to Israel spiked by seven times, at a time when, in my opinion, genocide was happening and has continued to unfold before our eyes. Back in February 2024, the then Minister, Simon Coveney, said the Department of trade and the Department of Foreign Affairs "review all dual-use export licence applications against the eight assessments set out in [the relevant] EU Council Common Position". These include respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, and the risk of internal repression, in the country of final destination. Certainly, Israel does not comply with that. Other criteria include the internal situation in the country of final destination with respect to tensions or armed conflicts, risks posed to the territory of neighbouring countries and risk of diversion of goods for undesirable uses. They are four of the eight criteria laid down under the EU policy. Can the Minister of State tell me more specifically who carried out the analysis of the licences given and where I can see that analysis?

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