Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, to the House.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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On 6 March, Lithuania officially withdrew from the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. That is the convention that bans the production and the use of cluster munitions. It is one of particular significance to Ireland because Ireland hosted the negotiations in Croke Park in 2008 that banned these horrendous weapons and got global support for their phasing out. A total of 124 states signed up to that ban. Lithuania has now withdrawn, the first state to ever withdraw from this international agreement banning this class of weaponry.

As a reminder of what cluster munitions are, they are a type of weapons, often called landmines from sky, where canisters of up to hundreds of explosive devices called submunitions scatter randomly over wide areas. Due to the random nature of cluster munitions, there is a no way of preventing civilian casualties when they are used. As they tend to fail to detonate on impact, they often become landmines and are particularly notorious for attracting children, leading to the loss of limbs or life for children. I met many of the amputees in Croke Park because I was there when the ban was negotiated. It was, as I said, a moment Ireland should be proud of, at a time when we were valuing our record on neutrality, disarmament and being a force for peace and humanity in the world. A total of 71% of the casualties from unexploded cluster munitions are children, with submunitions landing on farms, in streets and in playgrounds. Those who survive the blasts are often left with lost limbs and damage to their eyes. Often the munitions fall in unresourced and poverty-stricken conflict or post-conflict areas where access to treatment or rehabilitation is not available.

The year 2022 was deadliest year on record for the use of cluster munitions since the convention was ratified in 2008. Globally, after a decade and more, when we all understood how awful these weapons are, we are now seeing their use increasing. In Ukraine, at least 809 people have been killed because of the use of cluster munitions through the increase of the intensity in 2022 of Russia's aerial campaign over Ukraine and, very sadly, because Ukraine lobbied for and received cluster munitions from the United States. Russia, the United States and Ukraine are three of the very few countries in the world which are not signatories to this convention. Crucially, there is no moral use of these weapons in any conflict because of the nature of the weapons and the way they target civilians.

Ireland hosted the negotiations in 2008. What actions are being taken now? What leadership is Ireland giving now, in terms of its role to have, first, attempted to dissuade Lithuania from its withdrawal from this convention, to respond to the formal withdrawal of Lithuania from this convention, to discourage other states from withdrawing from the convention, and to widely discourage the production and use of cluster munitions anywhere? This is crucial because we have a time when there is somewhat of a glamorisation of what arms are and what militarisation means. If Ireland is going to have a moral voice, we need to see right now that it is giving moral leadership, including, when necessary, to our EU allies who propose to use weapons that are unconscionable.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Senator. It is my first time to address the Seanad and for that I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I hear what the Senator says. I hear the passion in her voice and her commitment to this issue. As the Senator has already said, Ireland is strongly committed to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.We should and do take pride in the fact the text of that convention was agreed at a diplomatic conference chaired by Ireland in Dublin in 2008. We fully recognise the value of the convention. Since the convention was adopted the market for, and production of, cluster munitions have contracted significantly. More than that, the convention has also produced a stigmatising effect on the use of cluster munitions among non-state parties.

Ireland will continue to work towards a full universalisation and implementation of the convention. As a sign of our active support, Ireland has made additional voluntary contributions to the implementation support unit of the Convention on Cluster Munitions to further its important work. We maintain active engagement through meetings of the states parties, the 13th of which is this year, and at intercessional meetings such as the upcoming meeting in Geneva in early April. Ireland's consistent and principled view is disarmament conventions are not for peacetime only and that it matters how wars are fought. Cluster munitions are by their nature indiscriminate and imprecise, continue to kill and maim long after the conflict is over and should not be used in any circumstances.

The Russian Federation's ongoing illegal war of aggression on Ukraine has created serious security challenges for Europe and Ireland is not immune to these challenges. The altered security environment affects all of us regardless of geography. However, the Government is conscious of the particular security concerns felt by states neighbouring Russia, including Lithuania. Lithuania took a sovereign decision to leave the Convention on Cluster Munitions just six months ago. This followed domestic considerations and democratic debate on the increased security threats, national military advice and a supermajority vote of the national parliament in which only one member voted against leaving. The decision took effect on 6 March this year when Lithuania became the first and, we hope, the only state party to leave the convention.

Lithuania knows Ireland's principled stance on cluster munitions well, including in the contest of Russia's war in Ukraine. Ireland has continued to support Ukraine and its people in the face of Russian aggression. In line with Ireland’s consistent support for our obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions the Department of Foreign Affairs has communicated Ireland's concerns to our Lithuanian partners. Ireland’s views were further conveyed by then Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, during her visit to Vilnius last September. We have also conveyed our views alongside other representatives of states parties to the convention through the Irish Embassy in Vilnius. From those discussions we know this decision was not easy for Lithuania and not taken lightly. As an EU member state committed to the international rules-based order and the rule of law, Lithuania chose to leave the Convention on Cluster Munitions rather than breach its obligations. While we of course wish Lithuania had decided to remain within the convention, we acknowledge the openness with which our Lithuanian colleagues treated this difficult decision.

Ireland is committed to upholding disarmament regimes, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and we will continue to be a vocal advocate for the convention.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call Senator Higgins back in, I welcome Bridget Clare, who was the sixth class teacher of Senator Ruane when she was in school. She taught her and taught her well, obviously. We are delighted she is here. She is here for a particular Commencement matter but we welcome her and thank her for being here.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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Lithuania is not the only country; Poland is now considering leaving the convention as well.Frankly, the response is highly inadequate and is effectively a set of excuses. We are meant to be applauding Lithuania because rather than breaching international rules based on the rule of order, it is leaving the convention. It is like we should be saying "Well done, what a tough decision for you" but it is not a tough decision. It is a decision that has consequences in terms of human life, loss of limb and impact on civilians. Frankly, it is not enough to convey that we will agree to disagree in some private meetings. We need to see what I call for in this Commencement matter, which is action. The kind of vocal support that is needed is not a quiet word in the ear, but vocal and visible statements from the Irish Government condemning an absolutely landmark decision to leave a convention against an unacceptable and brutal weapon. The Government must condemn it publicly and not just say "what a pity". That is what Ireland needs to do if we are to be meaningful in being vocal and taking action regarding the cluster munitions treaty. This is what the Government needs to do if it wants to dissuade other countries. It cannot simply be a case of "well you are a little nervous so you will use it; we were not planning on banning cluster munitions if you use them in wars." Of course they were designed for use in wars because they are one of the most brutal and effective weapons for mass killing. It is important for Ireland to take a stand now. What action will Ireland take? Can the Minister of State guarantee that we will not be engaging in any military co-operation with countries that have left the cluster munition treaty?

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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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.