Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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49. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications for a licence to export military or dual use items denied by her Department in 2017. [16605/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for controls on the export of these military and dual use items from Ireland.

Under Irish law, military export licences must 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 2008 EU Common Position on Arms Exports and EU sanctions regimes.

My Department is also responsible for licensing the export of dual-use items outside the EU pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No. 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items.

All export licence applications, whether for Dual-Use or Military Goods are subject to rigorous scrutiny.  My officials seek observations on any foreign policy concerns that may arise in respect of a proposed export; such factors are subject to review in the light of developments in a given region and having regard to the 2008 EU Common Position on Arms Exports. Any observations which may arise from this examination are considered in the final assessment of any licence application.

My Department may refuse an export licence, following consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other EU and Non-EU export licensing authorities, as appropriate.

In 2017 four export licence applications were refused. These refusals were made on the grounds of considerations about the intended end-use, the risk of diversion and EU sanctions.