Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Always.

The Minister is welcome. I put on record Sinn Féin's support for all these amendments. It is an area I am particularly interested in and I am grateful to Senator Higgins's office for sending me the relevant video of that committee meeting. I was shocked to see confirmation in effect that Irish taxpayers' money is going to a fund which is contributing to military companies, including companies that export to the apartheid State of Israel. In his response, I expect the Minister to say that these amendments are not needed and that everything is fine. The evidence is that we do. I have to be frank. I want to understand from the Minister why he would not accept in particular amendment No. 11. It would not in any way damage the Bill. It would simply make clear that none of our taxpayers' money should go in any way, directly or indirectly, there. Unfortunately, I detect an unwillingness to really commit this State to ensure we do the right thing.

It was clear from that committee meeting that the people answering the questions that day basically said this was not their problem, so there is a real issue here. I witnessed what Senator Higgins referred to. I watched the video of that committee meeting. I am clear that taxpayers' money is being spent in a way it should not be and that underlines the need to make these amendments. In particular, I urge the Minister to recognise the need for amendment No. 11. If he does not, it will be more than disappointing. It will be a derogation of duty, given the world we live in and the ever increasing militarisation agenda throughout the European Union, which we will face into in much greater detail after these European elections. It is essential to copper-fasten this legislation to ensure that Irish taxpayers' money does not go on such ventures. We know from the committee meeting we are referring to that this currently is the case. I urge the Minister, even at this late stage, to reconsider this issue.