Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the work of officials in my Department, particularly Dr. Eamon Cahill and Mr. Matthew Geoghegan, who are with us in the House this evening.

The Bill seeks to ensure that Ireland continues to play its part in preventing potentially dangerous items being exported from the EU and falling into the wrong hands. The horrific events of this week highlight again the senseless death, suffering and destruction caused by armed conflicts around the world. I echo the global concern for innocent civilians - men, women and children – who bear the brunt of armed conflict and condemn all such terrible acts of violence.

Maintaining international stability and security is at the heart of export controls. Controls on the export of certain goods are a crucial component of global non-proliferation efforts. When targeted correctly and enforced effectively, they are a powerful tool. The Bill will ensure that Ireland has a comprehensive and robust framework for implementing and enforcing export controls. There is also a need to strike a balance with the pursuit of free trade and the functioning of open markets. The Bill seeks to address that balance by providing transparency and consistency for exporters and incorporating a list-based approach to controls.

I thank Senators for their engagement on the Bill, particularly Senators Ruane, Black and Flynn for their serious considerations of the matter since Committee Stage last week.