Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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297. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the growing arms trade which in 2015 exceeded $1.68 trillion; his views on whether this trade has a detrimental effect, particularly on those in conflict zones and in view of the fact that eight of the top 20 arms selling nations are members of the EU; and if he will progress this worrying trend at European level. [39830/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The unregulated flow of arms has exacerbated regional conflicts, exacted a heavy toll in human suffering, and has deflected resources away from sustainable development. Many of these weapons find their way into the hands of perpetrators through illicit channels, helped by inadequate (or inadequately enforced) laws and weak control mechanisms at national and local levels.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which came into force in 2014, is the first legally binding instrument to regulate the international trade in conventional weapons. States which sign up to the Treaty are prohibited from exporting arms to countries if they know those weapons will be used to commit gross violations of human rights.

Ireland, as one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, has been a strong and consistent supporter of the Treaty. The ATT, properly implemented, can represent a major step forward in the international community’s efforts to regulate the international trade in Conventional Weapons.

Since the Treaty’s adoption, 92 States are now a party to the Treaty and a further 41 countries are signatory states to the Treaty. All EU Member States have signed and ratified the Treaty and the EU, including its individual Member States, provide significant support and funding to help realise the Treaty’s aims.

Further, the ATT now counts 12 out of the world’s 20 largest exporters of conventional arms as States Parties. However there is still progress to be made. Ireland regularly encourages all States who have not yet acceded to the Treaty as full members to do so. We also participate actively in EU demarches to non-members on this issue and will continue to do so.

Moreover, Ireland regularly provides financial assistance to the Voluntary Trust Fund, a vital mechanism which provides assistance to States in terms of universalisation and the effective implementation of the Treaty.

In addition to the ATT, the EU has a range of sanctions in place in respect of countries engaged in conflicts. All licence applications for exports are considered having regard to these measures. Sanctions can include arms embargoes and various restrictive measures including prohibitions on the provision of targeted goods and services.

My Department will continue to support the implementation of effective controls to regulate the international arms trade. My officials and I will continue to highlight the detrimental impact that the unregulated flow of arms can cause as we did most recently at the annual Conference of States Parties to the ATT.