Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

——to ensure they are given cover in that respect. The Government is determined to achieve the strongest possible prohibition on cluster munitions and to make a meaningful difference to the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable civilians around the world who have suffered from their use.

I have made clear my personal and long-standing engagement on this issue. I have been active on this for the past two and a half years, especially since I returned from Lebanon. Ireland is playing a strong leadership role in international efforts to this end through its participation in the Oslo process and the convening of the Dublin conference in May. We are committed to carrying forward the outcome of the conference into domestic legislation and policy and to using the resources at our disposal to support victim assistance, risk management, clearance of contaminated areas and destruction of stockpiles of cluster munitions. I look forward to the continuing collaboration of all parties in the Oireachtas in this endeavour.