Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason he has failed to introduce legislation to control arms brokering here by this Autumn; when such legislation will be introduced; the reason he is continuing to allow Ireland be used as a potential hub for the brokerage of military hardware; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/06]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government approved the General Scheme of the Control of Exports Bill on 19 July. The Bill is currently with the Parliamentary Counsel's Office for drafting and I expect it to be published by the end of this year. I hope to bring the new legislation before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the first half of 2007.

The proposed legislation will update the existing Control of Exports Act, which dates from 1983, and will ensure that Ireland's export controls are in line with best international practice. In this regard, the new legislation will include, for the first time, provision for the regulation of arms brokering activities in Ireland and by Irish citizens abroad. This will enable Ireland to fulfil its obligation under the EU Common Position on Arms Brokering, which requires Member States to take all the necessary measures to control brokering activities on their territory.