Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the promised new legislation in regard to export controls for military goods will be introduced; the main features of the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12091/05]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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The proposed new legislation, which was recommended by the 2004 Forfás review, will provide for the introduction of new controls on arms brokering and on the provision of certain types of technical assistance. Existing legislation will also be updated to provide, inter alia, for increased penalties for non-compliance with export control legislation, for the statutory right for the inspection and audit, by officials from my Department, of companies that export military goods, and for controls on the transfer of relevant software and technology by electronic means.

Work on drafting of the new legislation has commenced and it is planned to publish the Bill this year. The introduction of this new legislation will ensure that Ireland meets its EU and international obligations in full and it will equally ensure that its procedures are not overly restrictive as to make Ireland an unattractive location by international standards for mobile activity in legitimate industries.