Dáil debates

Thursday, 12 February 2009

4:00 pm

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on an effective universal arms trade treaty in view of the effect of unrestrained arms trading on human rights in conflict areas in particular. [5224/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I share fully the concerns of the Deputy about the impact of arms transfers on human rights in conflict areas. The programme for Government commits us to supporting a binding and comprehensive global treaty on the trade of arms covering all weapons and ammunition.

At the United Nations, Ireland has been actively promoting the idea of an arms trade treaty to secure agreement on common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. Last October we co-sponsored a resolution at the General Assembly which agreed the establishment of a working group to consider the elements that might be included in a legally binding treaty.

The first meeting of the group will take place next month in New York and officials from my Department will be actively involved. A key priority for Ireland in this process will be to ensure our long-standing commitment to the principles of humanitarian law and individual human rights is reflected in the final outcome. Achieving an arms trade treaty is also a priority for the European Union and we have been working closely with our partners to advance the prospects for agreement. The European Union is now preparing to hold a number of regional seminars in various parts of the world to highlight the necessity of securing an effective arms trade treaty. Although negotiation on this issue is likely to be complex and protracted, we are determined to remain fully focused on achieving a successful outcome.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the vital role which representatives of the NGO community such as Amnesty International and their partners in the control arms campaign have played in taking forward the proposal for an arms trade treaty. I look forward to maintaining close co-operation with them as we move ahead in this process.

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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What is revealed in this type of question is another contradiction at the heart of the European Union — I say this as somebody who is in favour of the European Union — in terms of diplomatic activity which is scant in regard to, say, the Middle East, with all due respect to Javier Solana and Tony Blair, whose presence has not achieved much.

During the past four and a half years, the European Union sold a total of 9.1 billion armaments to the Middle East. The figure for 2004 was just over 4 billion. The European Union, in its armaments industry, has been pouring armaments into the Middle East at the same time as it has remained silent on options in respect of the quartet proposals on US withdrawal. Will the Minister agree that in terms of securing a balanced foreign and security policy the most serious implications could be drawn from the bad faith involved in that regard? Some 156 Deputies and MEPs have signed Amnesty's petition. There are 1,600 parliamentarians around the world, including the United Nations.

The armaments industry is alive and well in the European Union.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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At the same time, there is a shortfall in terms of diplomacy. Deputy Deasy and I noted, when in a remote part of Africa called Karamojo, where people are being slaughtered, that spears had given way to AKs. Often there is not even a single weapons producing factory in the countries on the receiving end, which is an obscenity.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The whole world is engaged in the armaments industry.

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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That does not make it a good thing.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is only one side of the European Union and its role on the international stage. The European Union is the largest contributor to humanitarian assistance in the Middle East.

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Yes.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is never acknowledged. Generally speaking, in commentary on Europe, there is an over-tendency to portray Europe as a militaristic entity whereas it is possibly the best global entity around——

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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That is not the point.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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——in terms of conflict resolution and humanitarian aid and so on. I accept the premise behind the Deputy's question in terms of the treaty and so on.

From our perspective, the European Union has been a major driver in getting the arms trade treaty to the point at which it is now. Only recently, the code of conduct of arms export was upgraded to the status of common position. This means that armament companies in the EU are already in compliance with one of the strictest export regimes in the world. Again, a whole range of separate criteria must be taken into account, including the effect an arms transfer could have on a country of final destination. European countries must abide by approximately eight criteria in this regard.

That said, the UK, which has a substantial Defence Ministry, has been to the fore on this issue. The defence industry in the UK supports the introduction of an arms trade treaty. We will work with our partners in Europe to achieve the strongest possible treaty but the talks will be complex and protracted. Some of the larger states——

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Does the Minister favour an end-use requirement where the responsibility would fall on the producer as seller?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are not taking a predetermined position. We will wait to see how the talks unfold and evolve.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Does the Minister accept — this is a serious question in terms of the future Lisbon referendum — that one of the main reasons the referendum on Lisbon was lost is the European Union's spending on arms? The Minister will have to deal with this elephant in the room given this is a major issue for voters, in particular female voters who were disgusted with EU spending on the arms industry.

Does the Minister agree, in terms of arms and human rights, that white phosphorous bombs, which were used in Gaza, should be banned internationally? Cluster munitions were also used in Gaza. Does the Minister agree that these type of weapons should be banned from the face of the earth?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, I do. They are appalling weapons that visited huge injuries on the civilian population in Gaza.

With regard to the Deputy's comment on the European Union, member states historically, long before the European Union, have been involved in the arms trade and industry. That is a fact we knew before we joined the European Union.

The key issue in terms of our participation in the European Union is that no obligations are placed on us, that we have full freedom to exercise options and choices and that we can move the European common foreign policy towards an active engagement with the world that is positive and focused on conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, developing democracies and good value systems in areas of conflict. Europe has been spectacularly successful on this front. There is no other entity in the world that has been as effective and successful as the European Union in terms of ending conflict and creating harmony. There is no question about that.

We must be mindful that peacekeeping armies and troops need equipment and facilities to be effective peacekeepers. That said, I am also mindful of what the Deputy has said. Certainly, that image of the European Union has been portrayed but it is not a fair or balanced one. There is another side to the story that does not get articulated to the same degree. Perhaps that is the fault of the European Union and others, but it needs to be said.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The spending is in the treaty.