Written answers

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Arms Trade

10:00 pm

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position historically and currently in relation to Ireland's policy and political campaigning on the international arms industry and related issues; and if reference will be made to relevant ministerial statements, Dáil debates, UN debates and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30938/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The 2007 Programme for Government contained a specific commitment to support a binding and comprehensive global treaty on the trade of arms, covering all weapons and ammunition. In implementation of this commitment, Ireland has worked within the UN and with the EU to achieve a comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. The EU has a common position in support of this objective.

Since December 2006 the UN has been examining the feasibility, scope and draft parameters for a comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. As part of this process, Ireland submitted a report on its views on the Arms Trade Treaty to the UN in April 2007 and this was included in the UN Secretary-General's report on this subject in August 2007.

Ireland cosponsored resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2008 and 2009 and has taken an active role in deliberations and UN meetings on various aspects of the proposed treaty. The 2009 resolution provides for a UN Diplomatic Conference in 2012 to negotiate the Arms Trade Treaty, with a number of Preparatory Committees in the run-up to that Conference. The first two sessions of the Preparatory Committee will take place from 12 - 23 July next. Ireland will be represented at senior level from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Defence Forces.

The Chair of the July meetings, Ambassador Moritan of Argentina, has indicated that he hopes to get general agreement on the structure of an ATT, with future sessions then focusing on the detailed discussion of the composition of its individual elements. Ireland takes the view that the scope of the ATT should be as wide as possible and should cover both the items on the UN Register of Conventional Arms as well as Small Arms and Light Weapons, ammunition and explosives. We will be making these points in the negotiations.

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