Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very keen for the Bill to pass Committee Stage. The Government has been clear that it will not oppose its passing. We have such a thing as Report Stage whereby people can raise any issues they have. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, indicated there are issues on which he wishes to work and engage with Senators. We will be very happy to engage between Committee and Report Stages to strengthen and improve the legislation. That is how the process works. It does not work by seeking to torpedo Committee Stage while it is in progress. It works by carrying through the proper legislative process.

I hope we will have a very constructive engagement with the Department between Committee and Report Stages. It is important to signal that, in that interval, we also need to see a change in approach from the Government and the Minister. The Bill was designed to highlight issues of serious concern. Correlations are being drawn. There is a correlation in that there is a 14% increase in the number of exemptions. There is a correlation in that those who have been applying for those exemptions are predominantly doing so in respect of flights coming from the United States and Germany, which are the largest arms suppliers to Israel. Those correlations mean we need to see the Government talking about how it will strengthen the system. We cannot have exemptions becoming the rule, as they have been, with only 1% being refused. We need accountability month by month in the period between Committee and Report Stages as to which exemptions are granted, when they are granted and what measures the Government is taking to seek to protect against the very credible risk and likelihood of weapons passing through our State that may be used by Israel in Gaza, especially given what Senator Clonan outlined.

We also need specific answers regarding the massive increase in the number of Irish-registered civil aircraft, from 26 to 519. Those civil aircraft need an exemption from the Minister. Exemptions have been applied for and were granted without question. The massive increase in the number has not been questioned. That needs to be addressed and accounted for between Committee and Report Stages. I will not engage further on this. Senators may bring forward amendments as they wish. Of course, there are already arms embargoes on Venezuela, and EU arms embargoes on Myanmar. Arms embargoes are not a wild and strange thing. Canada has stopped arms sales to Israel, Italy has blocked the practice, Spain has stopped arms sales, and the supreme court of the Netherlands has cited the exact International Court of Justice ruling we have mentioned when forbidding the transfer of F-35 components. This is not about being on the side of Israel or Palestine. It is about being on the side of international law.

I thank the Minister and the Minister of State, who is here now. I look forward to engaging between Committee and Report Stages. We need to move ahead and ensure that we finish Committee Stage now and go to the next stage.