Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

408. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any export licences for military list products to Israel have been granted since the end of the first quarter of 2014; if there have been any applications for licences which have been rejected during this period; and in view of the fact that military export licences to Israel are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, if human rights criteria are examined in each case; and if the possible end-use of items by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza would be a specific criteria used, as in the case in other European Union countries. [21400/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is responsible for controls on the export of military items from Ireland. Under Irish law, military export licences have to be sought in respect of the goods and technology, and any components thereof, listed in the Annex to the Control of Exports (Goods and Technology) Order, S.I. 216 of 2012, which reflects the EU Common Military List.

No licences for the export of Military List products to Israel have been granted since the end of the first quarter of 2014. No applications for the export of Military List products to Israel have been received or rejected during that period.

The Deputy is correct in that all export licence applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. All military licence applications are subject to rigorous scrutiny and are considered in the light of the spirit and objectives of the 2008 EU Common Position on Arms Exports. Criterion two of the Common Position is “Respect for human rights in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country of international humanitarian law”. This criterion, along with the other criteria of the Common Position, is considered when reviewing any military export licence application.

All applications for military export licenses are very carefully assessed against well-established criteria. Proposed exports of Military List products to Israel, as with all other destinations, are subject to a rigorous licence application process which centres on a careful assessment of the proposed end-user and the end-use.

Furthermore, the Department consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in respect of all military export licence applications.