Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the value of military exports and military export licences issued in 2010. [9731/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the value of dual-use exports and export licences issued by his Department in 2010. [9732/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of military licences refused in 2010; and if he will list the companies refused and the basis for refusal. [9733/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of dual-use export licences refused in 2010; and if he will list the companies refused and the basis for refusal. [9734/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 to 280, inclusive, together.

Preliminary data regarding the value and number of export licences issued in 2010, in respect of military and dual use goods and technology is set out in the following table. Military licences are issued for a limited 12 month period. They cover the export of specified goods or technology to clearly identified destinations and end users. All licence applications are carefully examined to determine what exactly is the end use. My Department consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of each military licence application before it is issued.

Individual dual use licences are also issued for a 12 month period for exports up to a specified amount and to a specific end-user. Global dual-use licences, which are valid for a six month period, can be issued for dual-use goods up to a specified amount for a number of destinations from a specific exporter.

A key part of the licensing process in relation to all types of export licence applications is to ensure, as far as possible, that the item to be exported will be used by the stated end-user for the stated end-use, and will not be used for an illicit purpose, e.g. for use in connection with WMD or for use in an embargoed country. The checks and balances built into the licensing system facilitate robust scrutiny in this regard.

The criteria taken into account when deciding whether or not to grant an individual or global dual use licence are set out in Article 12 of Regulation 428/2009. It provides that Member States shall take into account "all relevant considerations including":

(a) the obligations and commitments they have each accepted as members of the relevant international non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements, or by ratification of relevant international treaties;

(b) their obligations under sanctions imposed by a common position or a joint action adopted by the Council or by a decision of the OSCE or by a binding resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations;

(c) considerations of national foreign and security policy, including those covered by Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment; and

(d) considerations about intended end-use and the risk of diversion.

The Common Position referred to at point (c) above sets out common criteria against which applications for exports of military goods should be assessed. These criteria include, inter alia, essential and important considerations such as the impact on human rights in the country of destination, regional peace, security and stability and the approach of the buying country to the rule of law and terrorism.

One dual use licence application was refused in 2010. I do not propose to provide further detail about refusals to grant export licenses due to issues of commercial confidentiality. Information regarding the value of goods does not represent the actual value of goods exported. Rather it represents the value of goods in respect of which an export licence was granted.

**For export control purposes, dual-use goods refer to products which, though manufactured for civilian use, could also have a military application.