Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 150: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will call on the US and British governments to cease all arms sales to the regime in Bahrain which include CS gas and rubber coated bullets that are being used against protesters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30734/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland remains deeply concerned at the general human rights situation in Bahrain and has not issued a license for the sale of military goods to Bahrain since the outbreak of unrest in that country. The decision to transfer or deny the transfer of any military goods or technology is at the national discretion of each exporting State. I cannot comment on individual exports made by other States to third parties, or on the internal decision making process which authorised those exports. However, Ireland's position on the need for common international standards for arms exports, which take full account of human rights obligations and international law, is well known to all of our partners. We will continue to make our position clear in all appropriate fora. Next month, in New York, my officials will participate fully in a Diplomatic Conference at which, I hope, agreement can be reached on a legally binding and comprehensive Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

Ireland has been very active in supporting work towards an ATT, including through co-sponsorship in 2008 of a UN Resolution establishing an Open-Ended Working Group to consider the elements that might be included in an ATT. We have participated actively in the EU Working Group on the ATT and throughout the Preparatory Committee process for next month's conference. We will continue to work with EU and other like-minded countries to agree an instrument establishing the highest possible common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional weapons that takes full account of human rights obligations and international law.

I would add that Ireland is bound by and fully supports an EU Common Position which defines the rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment by EU Member States. Under this Common Position, Member States assess all licence applications for military exports against a series of Common Criteria. There are eight separate criteria which take into account the effect that the arms transfer could have on the country of final destination. The Common Position and its implementation are kept under constant review by Member States.

As a result of the Common Position, I would note that armaments companies in the EU are in compliance with one of the strictest export control regimes in the world. Ireland would expect all of its EU partners to abide by the Common Position. If it emerges that any EU Member State is knowingly engaged in exporting arms in contravention of the Common Position, the Deputy can be assured that Ireland would raise the matter at the appropriate EU level.