Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)

I hope that is the case because, even in the previous answer to Deputy Conway-Walsh, we hear this emphasis on streamlining and making more efficient the administrative burden on businesses. However, this is a really serious area and one that needs to go in the other direction. In data released to me in answer to a parliamentary question, figures showed significant increases in the value and number of export licences granted since 2021. The Government's competitiveness plan indicates that the Government wants more dual-use products sold abroad by Irish companies, directly linking the productivity and competitiveness of Irish SMEs to funds for military research and development. Logically, that means more and riskier dual-use exports to be assessed for licences. How can any Department do more work and more complex work without additional resources allocated to ensure that everything is above board? When it comes to this conversation, we keep hearing about chips and ICT products but these goods can also be parts for drones such as those that are attacking humanitarian workers on the Sumud flotilla and civilians in Gaza right now. It is an incredibly serious topic and I and others need reassurance that the Minister of State's Department is taking its duties regarding this matter seriously.

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