Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Question No. 2 of 6 October 2005, the complexity to which he referred in that answer, and which would delay the establishment of an arms sales treaty. [33494/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My comment regarding the complexity of the issue was in reference to such considerations as the scope of the proposed international arms trade treaty and the wish of its proponents that it be a legally-binding document.

Experience within the United Nations in the past has shown that negotiations involving 191 states on such matters have been complex and consensus is often difficult to achieve. There have been successes in this field in recent years, including most recently an international instrument to enable states to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons, which was adopted last June. Even here, however, it was not possible to agree a legally binding text, for which we and our partners in the European Union had pressed.

We will continue to promote the objective of strengthening arms controls globally. Ireland fully supports strict controls on arms and is working within the European Union and at a number of international fora to develop such controls, including an international arms trade treaty.