Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Higgins again. I can hear her passion and her belief, and that matters. What I can say on behalf of the Government is that Ireland's support for the Convention on Cluster Munitions remains steadfast. As I have said, Ireland is committing to further the universalisation and implementation of the convention. We will remain a strong advocate for the aims of a convention that seeks to prevent the use of such indiscriminate weapons, which have reverberating and long-lasting negative effects. We fully agree with the Senator's statements on this.

Lithuania's decision to leave the convention clearly reflects the serious extent to with which the illegal actions of Russia and its unjustified war of aggression on Ukraine have undermined European security. This is further reflected in the recommendation this week from the ministries of defence in Poland and three Baltic states to leave the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, otherwise known as the Ottawa treaty. Domestic discussions and democratic processes with regard to these recommendations are due to take place in these states. All I can do is assure the Chamber that Ireland's views on disarmament conventions are and will remain well known to our partners.